bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influences on doctors’ prescribing: is geographical remoteness a factor?
Authors: Cutts Christopher , Tett Susan E. 
Published: September 2003

ABSTRACTObjective: To identify factors influencing the prescribing of medicines by general practitioners in rural and remote Australia. Design: A qualitative study using a questionnaire to determine attitudes about prescribing, specific prescribing habits and comments on prescribing in ‘rural practice’. Setting: General practice in rural and remote Queensland. Subjects: General practitioners practising in rural and remote settings in Queensland (n = 258).Main outcome measures: The factors perceived to influence the prescribing of medicines by medical practitioners in rural environments. Results: A 58% response rate (n = 142) was achieved. Most respondents agreed that they prescribe differently in rural compared with city practice. The majority of respondents agreed that their prescribing was influenced by practice location, isolation of patient home location, limited diagnostic testing and increased drug monitoring. Location issues and other issues were more likely to be identified as ‘influential’ by the more isolated practitioners. Factors such as access to continuing medical education and specialists were confirmed as having an influence on prescribing. The prescribing of recently marketed drugs was more likely by doctors practising in less remote rural areas.Conclusion: Practising in rural and remote locations is perceived to have an effect on prescribing. These influences need to be considered when developing quality use of medicines policies and initiatives for these locations. What is already known: Anecdotal and audit based studies have shown that rural general practice differs to urban‐based practice in Australia, including some limited data showing some variations in prescribing patterns. No substantiated explanations for these variations have been offered. It is known that interventions to change prescribing behaviour are more likely to be effective if they are perceived as relevant and hence increasing our knowledge of rural doctors’ perceptions of differences in rural practice prescribing is required. What this study adds: Rural doctors believed that they prescribe differently in rural compared with city practice and they described a range of influences. The more remotely located doctors were more likely to report the ‘rural’ influences on prescribing, however, most results failed to reach statistical significance when compared to the less remotely located doctors. These perceptions should be considered when developing medicines policy and education for rural medical practitioners to ensure it is perceived rurally relevant.
Assessment of handwriting speed and factors influencing written output of university students in examinations
Authors: Summers Janet , Catarro Fatima 
Published: September 2003

Limited written output is of concern for students sitting examinations. Referral for assessment often states the problem as poor handwriting speed. This study investigated the ability of a short duration speed test to predict written output under examination conditions, and factors thought to influence written output. The number of words written per minute by 66 second‐year university students was calculated for three writing tasks (Handwriting Speed Test, and two examination papers) and the relationships examined. Data were collected on pencil grasp, legibility, writing style, pain, fatigue and academic ability. The results do not support the use of a short duration speed test to predict written output in an examination (r2 = 0.072). Pencil grasp, pain and academic ability were found to have some association with written output. There is a need to establish normative data for written output in examinations and to further develop assessment techniques.
Exploring the therapeutic environment for older women with late‐life depression: An examination of the benefits of an activity group for older people suffering from depression
Authors: McWha J. Lindsay , Pachana Nancy A. , Alpass Fiona 
Published: September 2003

This study examines a therapeutic activity group that was developed over a period of 4 years by occupational therapists, and includes components of psychosocial treatment. The study was designed to identify the benefits of the group activity for members and to identify whether members’ expectations of attending the group are the same as (or different to) the health professionals’ expectations of the benefits for group members. The Model of Occupational Spin‐off is applied as the theoretical basis for the study. Group members completed a specialised questionnaire and two standard assessments. Health professionals completed a separate, but similar, questionnaire. The results were analysed by using statistical tests and confirmed that the expectations of group members and health professionals are not significantly different.
The latanoprost monotherapy survey in New Zealand, 2000
Authors: Elder Mark , Mora Justin 
Published: September 2003

ABSTRACT Background: A State subsidy for latanoprost has been recently introduced. It is subject to several conditions including that it should only be used as monotherapy. Method: A prospective survey of all New Zealand ophthalmologists was undertaken to determine the outcome of the widespread trial of latanoprost monotherapy. The return rate was 82%. Results: Of 2900 patients on latanoprost nation‐wide, 14.7% were monotherapy failures. Of these, 93% were due to inadequate intraocular pressure control but this subgroup had adequate control on two or more medications in 88%. Ophthalmologists had 635 patients that were not trialed as monotherapy, of which 565 (89%) were due to a perceived risk. Conclusions: In those patients treated with latanoprost, 85% were adequately controlled as monotherapy.
Undergraduate ophthalmology education survey of New Zealand ophthalmologists, general practitioners and optometrists
Authors: Ah‐Chan John J , Sanderson Gordon , Vote Brendan JT , Molteno Anthony CB 
Published: September 2003

ABSTRACT Aim: To determine what New Zealand ophthalmologists, general practitioners and optometrists consider important ophthalmic topic areas requiring emphasis in the medical undergraduate curriculum. Method: A total of 793 questionnaires related to the content and teaching of undergraduate ophthalmology were sent to ophthalmologists, general practitioners and optometrists. Results were analysed separately for the three respondent groups and as a whole. Results: Four hundred and fourteen questionnaires were returned (52% return rate). Overall responses of the three participant groups were similar and agreed favourably with the current curriculum. The ability to measure visual acuity (97%) and pupillary reflexes (93%), perform ophthalmoscopy (92%), and assess visual fields (68%) were regarded as ‘important or essential’ by the majority of respondents. Only 53% of respondents consider the ability to diagnose chronic open angle glaucoma as important. The respondents stressed the importance of the diagnosis of predominantly anterior segment disease contrasting with the traditional bias towards the teaching of ophthalmoscopy and posterior segment disease. The majority of respondents stressed the importance of graduating medical students being able to treat bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis, styes, blepharitis, corneal abrasion, and corneal and conjunctival foreign bodies, areas present but not normally emphasized in current curricula. Conclusion: The findings of this study provided additional data to facilitate curriculum design and illustrated the value of an integrated problem‐based learning approach in ophthalmology undergraduate teaching.
Delayed diffuse lamellar keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis
Authors: Yeoh Jonathan , Moshegov Con N 
Published: September 2003

ABSTRACTTwo cases are reported of delayed diffuse lamellar keratitis after uneventful laser in situ keratomileusis. The first patient presented with an epithelial defect 6 weeks after laser in situ keratomileusis. Three days later the defect was healed but diffuse lamellar keratitis was noted. This was treated with topical dexamethasone and ketorolac with complete resolution of the diffuse lamellar keratitis over 3 weeks. The second patient presented with an epithelial defect and gross diffuse lamellar keratitis 10 weeks after laser in situ keratomileusis. Treatment was with topical dexamethasone and ciprofloxacin with gradual resolution of the diffuse lamellar keratitis. Common to both patients was a background of rosacea, implanted debris with no initial reaction, and epithelial defects leading to diffuse lamellar keratitis. It is suggested that these two cases represent epithelial defect associated corneal infiltration, which resembles classical diffuse lamellar keratitis with the spread of inflammatory cells through a path of least resistance.
Fretting fatigue behaviour of shot‐peened Ti‐6Al‐4V at room and elevated temperatures
Authors: LEE H. , JIN O. , MALL S. 
Published: September 2003

ABSTRACTFretting fatigue behaviour of shot‐peened titanium alloy, Ti‐6Al‐4V was investigated at room and elevated temperatures. Constant amplitude fretting fatigue tests were conducted over a wide range of maximum stresses, σmax= 333 to 666 MPa with a stress ratio of R= 0.1. Two infrared heaters, placed at the front and back of specimen, were used to heat and maintain temperature of the gage section of specimen at 260 °C. Residual stress measurements by X‐ray diffraction method before and after fretting test showed that residual compressive stress was relaxed during fretting fatigue. Elevated temperature induced more residual stress relaxation, which, in turn, decreased fretting fatigue life significantly at 260 °C. Finite element analysis (FEA) showed that the longitudinal tensile stress, σxx varied with the depth inside the specimen from contact surface during fretting fatigue and the largest σxx could exist away from the contact surface in a certain situation. A critical plane based fatigue crack initiation model, modified shear stress range parameter (MSSR), was computed from FEA results to characterize fretting fatigue crack initiation behaviour. It showed that stress relaxation during test affected fretting fatigue life and location of crack initiation significantly. MSSR parameter also predicted crack initiation location, which matched with experimental observations and the number of cycles for crack initiation, which showed the appropriate trend with the experimental observations at both temperatures.
Structural integrity assessment of FBR components using a distributed computing environment
Authors: RAJAGOPAL A. , RAVICHANDRAN M. , MURALIDHER N. G. , SIVAKUMAR S. M. 
Published: September 2003

ABSTRACTIn this work, the structural integrity of the critical components of the fast breeder reactor (FBR) that are subjected thermal striping is assessed using a fracture mechanics approach based on linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM). The structural integrity is assessed in terms of the actual life of the component for a particular difference between the hot and cold liquid temperatures at the critical mixing velocities. A generalized procedure is attempted for the computation of fatigue life. It is demonstrated in this work that the analysis procedure adopted is computationally very efficient. Green's function method is used for transient mode I crack propagation analysis. An inherent parallelism in the method is exploited for computational efficiency. A distributed computing environment is, therefore, used to demonstrate the effectiveness of Green's function method for crack propagation analysis for the kind of problem solved in this work. A simple idealization in the form of flat plate geometry is used in a numerical example to show the computational efficiency. The method shows a good scale‐up justifying the benefit of using a distributed computing environment given a large amount of input data for the thermal striping problem.
Relation between stimulus and response in frog olfactory receptor neurons in vivo
Authors: Rospars Jean‐Pierre , Lánský Petr , Duchamp André , Duchamp‐Viret Patricia 
Published: September 2003

AbstractThe spiking activity of receptor neurons was recorded extracellularly in the frog olfactory epithelium in response to four odourants applied at precisely controlled concentrations. A set of criteria was formulated to define the spikes in the response. Four variables – latency, duration, number of interspike intervals and frequency – were determined to quantify the responses. They were studied at the single neuron, neuron population and ciliary membrane levels. The dose–response curves were determined using specific functions and their characteristics were evaluated. The characteristic molar concentrations at threshold or at maximum duration and the characteristics of variables, e.g. minimum latency or maximum frequency, have asymmetric histograms with peaks close to the origin and long tails. Dynamic ranges have even more asymmetric histograms, so that a significant fraction of neurons presents a much wider range than their one‐decade peak. From these histograms, response properties of the whole neuron population can be inferred. In general, location along the concentration axis (thresholds), width (dynamic ranges) and heights of dose–response curves are independent, which explains the diversity of curves, prevents their global categorization and supports the qualitative coding of odourants. No evidence for odourant‐independent types of neurons was found. Finally, receptor activation and ciliary membrane conductance were reconstructed in the framework of a model based on firing data, known mucus biochemical and neuron morpho‐electrical characteristics. It is in agreement with independent determinations of Kd of odourant–receptor interaction and of conductance characteristics, and describes their statistical distributions in the neuron population.
Timecourse of striatal re‐innervation following lesions of dopaminergic SNpc neurons of the rat
Authors: Stanic D. , Finkelstein D. I. , Bourke D. W. , Drago J. , Horne M. K. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractPreviously we described the extent of sprouting that axons of the rat substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) undergo to grow new synapses and re‐innervate the dorsal striatum 16 weeks after partial lesions. Here we provide insights into the timing of events related to the re‐innervation of the dorsal striatum by regenerating dopaminergic nigrostriatal axons over a 104‐week period after partial SNpc lesioning. Density of dopamine transporter and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive axonal varicosities (terminals) decreased up to 80% 4 weeks after lesioning but returned to normal by 16 weeks, unless SNpc lesions were greater than 75%. Neuronal tracer injections into the SNpc revealed a 119% increase in axon fibres (4 mm rostral to the SNpc) along the medial forebrain bundle 4 weeks after lesioning. SNpc cells underwent phenotypic changes. Four weeks after lesioning the proportion of SNpc neurons that expressed tyrosine hydroxylase fell from 90% to 38% but returned to 78% by 32 weeks. We discuss these phenotype changes in the context of neurogenesis. Significant reductions in dopamine levels in rats with medium (30–75%) lesions returned to normal by 16 weeks whereas recovery was not observed if lesions were larger than 75%. Finally, rotational behaviour of animals in response to amphetamine was examined. The clear rightward turning bias observed after 2 weeks recovered by 16 weeks in animals with medium (30–75%) lesions but was still present when lesions were larger. These studies provide insights into the processes that regulate sprouting responses in the central nervous system following injury.
The immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofetil attenuates neuronal damage after excitotoxic injury in hippocampal slice cultures
Authors: Dehghani Faramarz , Hischebeth Gunnar T. R. , Wirjatijasa Florentina , Kohl Angelika , Korf Horst‐Werner , Hailer Nils P. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractIn this study we investigated whether treatment with the immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has beneficial effects on neuronal damage after excitotoxic injury. Organotypic hippocampal slice culture (OHSC), lesioned by the application of N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) after 6 days in vitro, showed an improved preservation of the hippocampal cytoarchitecture after continuous treatment with MMF for 3 further days (10 or 100 µg/mL). Treatment with NMDA and MMF (100 µg/mL) reduced the number of damaged propidium iodide (PI)+ neurons by 50.7% and the number of microglial cells by 52%. Continuous treatment of lesioned OHSCs with MMF for 3 days almost abrogated the glial proliferative response, reflected by the 91.5% reduction in the number of bromo‐desoxy‐uridine (BrdU)‐labelled microglial cells and astrocytes. Microglial cells in MMF‐treated OHSCs contained fragmented nuclei, indicating apoptotic cell death, an effect which was also found in isolated microglial cells treated with MMF. The beneficial effect of MMF on neuronal survival apparently does not reflect a direct antiexcitotoxic effect, as short‐term treatment of OHSCs with NMDA and MMF for 4 h did not reduce the number of PI+ neurons. In conclusion, MMF inhibits proliferation and activation of microglia and astrocytes and protects neurons after excitotoxic injury.
The in vivo positional identity gene expression code is not preserved in neural stem cells grown in culture
Authors: Santa‐Olalla Jesús , Baizabal José‐Manuel , Fregoso Mariana , Del Carmen Cárdenas María , Covarrubias Luis 
Published: September 2003

AbstractNeural stem cell specification depends on antero‐posterior (AP) and dorso‐ventral (DV) information provided during development. In the present study we identified similar neural stem cell (NSC) populations along the AP axis of the mouse central nervous system: the ‘early’ NSCs responsive to fibroblast growth factor‐2 and the ‘late’ NSCs responsive to epidermal growth factor (EGF). Gene expression analysis shows that AP and DV transcription factor code is not preserved in NSCs in culture. Neurospheres generated with EGF from different regions showed Emx2, En2 and Krox20 expression beyond their corresponding AP restricted areas (telencephalon, mesencephalon and rhomboencephalon, respectively). Hox genes were rarely expressed. DV markers such as Pax7 and Dbx1 were not expressed in neurosphere cells, whereas Pax6 and Nkx2.1 were highly expressed independently of the NSC source region. In general, this pattern was found under different culture conditions. We propose that signals surrounding NSCs determine their positional identity gene expression code, which may be relevant to establish their definitive fate.
Increase in Bcl‐2 phosphorylation and reduced levels of BH3‐only Bcl‐2 family proteins in kainic acid‐mediated neuronal death in the rat brain
Authors: Korhonen Laura , Belluardo Natale , Mudo Giuseppa , Lindholm Dan 
Published: September 2003

AbstractKainic acid induces excitotoxicity and nerve cell degeneration in vulnerable regions of rat brain, most markedly in hippocampus and amygdala. Part of the cell death following kainic acid is apoptotic as shown by caspase 3 activation and chromatin condensation. Here we have studied the regulation of pro‐ and anti‐apoptotic proteins belonging to the Bcl‐2 family in rat hippocampus and amygdala by kainic acid in relationship to ensuing neuronal death. The pro‐apoptotic protein Bax was up‐regulated in hippocampus 6 h after kainic acid administration. The increase in Bax was followed by the appearance of TdT‐mediated dUTP nick end labelling‐positive cells which were prominent at 24 h. Immunohistochemistry for active Bax revealed a punctated labelling of neurons in the CA3 and hilar regions of hippocampus as well as in amygdala. Double staining for NeuN, a marker for nerve cells, and TdT‐mediated dUTP nick end labelling showed that mainly neurons undergo degeneration after kainic acid treatment. In contrast to Bax, the pro‐apoptotic BH3‐only Bcl‐2 proteins Bim and Harakiri/DP5 were down‐regulated by kainic acid. This was also observed for the anti‐apoptotic proteins Bcl‐x and Bcl‐w. Immunoreactive Bcl‐2 was up‐regulated in hippocampus after kainic acid together with an increase in the phosphorylation of serine‐87 in Bcl‐2, suggesting a post‐transcriptional modification of the protein. This was confirmed using immunoprecipitation of total Bcl‐2 from hippocampus and amygdala which revealed an increase in serine‐87 phospho‐Bcl‐2 after kainic acid. Inhibition of the c‐jun N‐terminal protein kinase pathway reduced both serine‐87 phosphorylation and cell death after kainic acid. This indicates an important role of Bcl‐2 phosphorylation in controlling neuronal death after kainic acid. In contrast to the situation in trophic factor‐deprived neurons, no up‐regulation of Bim or Harakiri/DP5 proteins occurred after kainic acid, suggesting alternative pathways for regulation of cell death in excitotoxicity. The results indicate that not only the relative levels of Bcl‐2 family proteins but also conformation changes and post‐translational modifications contribute to neuronal death following kainic acid.
In vivo modulation of 5‐hydroxytryptamine release in mouse prefrontal cortex by local 5‐HT2A receptors: effect of antipsychotic drugs
Authors: Bortolozzi Analía , Amargós‐Bosch Mercè , Adell Albert , Díaz‐Mataix Llorenç , Serrats Jordi , Pons Sebastià , Artigas Francesc 
Published: September 2003

AbstractIn the rat, postsynaptic 5‐hydroxytryptamine2A receptors medial prefrontal cortex control the activity of the serotonergic system through changes in the activity of pyramidal neurons projecting to the dorsal raphe nucleus. Here we extend these observations to mouse brain. The prefrontal cortex expresses abundant 5‐ hydroxytryptamine2A receptors, as assessed by immunohistochemistry, Western blots and in situ hybridization procedures. The application of the 5‐hydroxytryptamine2A/2C agonist DOI (100 µm) by reverse dialysis in the medial prefrontal cortex doubled the local release of 5‐hydroxytryptamine. This effect was reversed by coperfusion of tetrodotoxin, and by the selective 5‐hydroxytryptamine2A receptor antagonist M100907, but not by the 5‐hydroxytryptamine2C antagonist SB‐242084. The effect of DOI was also reversed by prazosin (α1‐adrenoceptor antagonist), BAY × 3702 (5‐hydroxytryptamine1A receptor agonist), NBQX (α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole‐4‐propionate/kainic acid antagonist) and 1S,3S‐ACPD (mGluR II/III agonist), but not by dizocilpine (N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate antagonist). α‐Amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole‐4‐propionate mimicked the 5‐hydroxytryptamine elevation produced by DOI, an effect also reversed by BAY × 3702. Likewise, the coperfusion of classical (chlorpromazine, haloperidol) and atypical antipsychotic drugs (clozapine, olanzapine) fully reversed the 5‐hydroxytryptamine elevation induced by DOI. These observations suggest that DOI increases 5‐hydroxytryptamine release in the mouse medial prefrontal cortex through the activation of local 5‐hydroxytryptamine2A receptors by an impulse‐dependent mechanism that involves/requires the activation of local α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole‐4‐propionate receptors. This effect is reversed by ligands of receptors present in the medial prefrontal cortex, possibly in pyramidal neurons, which are involved in the action of antipsychotic drugs. In particular, the reversal by classical antipsychotics may involve blockade of α1‐adrenoceptors, whereas that of atypical antipsychotics may involve 5‐hydroxytryptamine2A receptors and α1‐adrenoceptors.