bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cultural Incommensurability in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in Western and Japanese Traditions
Authors: Kozuki Yoriko , Kennedy Michael G. 
Published: March 2004

Purpose:

To examine cultural incommensurability between clients of Japanese ancestry and Western therapists.
Design:

Aggregated case‐study method was used to analyze psychotherapy cases of Japanese individuals seen by Western therapists. Eight cases were selected for this study from a private practice client pool.
Findings:

Themes were: (a) only observable data were valued for diagnosis and treatment; (b) cultural stereotypes hampered treatment; (c) individuation and separation occurred within a social web of norms in Japanese culture; (d) key concepts in mental health such as “death and dying” and “rape” were interpreted by clients within a Japanese cultural framework, resulting in unique psychological reactions and behaviors, which had not been recognized by Western therapists; (e) psychological effects of immigration were minimized or ignored by Western therapists; (f) culturally unfamiliar behaviors were “pathologized” by Western therapists; and (g) Western therapists showed ethnocentric biases regarding the effects of immigration.
Conclusions:

Various forms of misunderstanding and culturally ignorant practices were found in the treatment of eight Japanese clients by these Western therapists. These ineffective and often harmful practices were unrecognized by the Western therapists.
Barriers to Family Care in Psychiatric Settings
Authors: Rose Linda E. , Mallinson R. Kevin , Walton‐Moss Benita 
Published: March 2004

Purpose:

To identify barriers to family care in psychiatric settings and to describe family and provider perspectives about what constitutes effective family care.
Design and Methods:

A qualitative exploratory approach with focus groups. Seventy‐eight people participated in 11 focus groups conducted with families, patients, and health professionals.
Findings:

Families identified poor quality care, conflict with health professionals about treatment, and lack of a role for families in the treatment. African American families also identified isolation of their communities from the mental health care system. Adolescents emphasized their role as caregivers and their needs for support. Health professionals conveyed concerns about system‐based barriers, professional practice‐based barriers, and family‐based barriers to care. Patients stated the need for their families to be better educated about mental illness.
Conclusions:

The lack of family care in psychiatric settings is a multifaceted problem. Current health policies do not show endorsement of a family care approach. Responses from families and health professionals indicated conflicting opinions about content of family care. Health professionals reported they often lacked training and resources to deal with complex family issues. Families believed that lengthy and intensive interventions were neither necessary nor desired to address their concerns. Family care can be improved by focusing on building rapport and communicating problems and concerns between families and health professionals.
Health Disparities and Mental Retardation
Authors: Fisher Kathleen 
Published: March 2004

Purpose:

To identify health care needs and the availability and accessibility of health care services for people with mental retardation (MR).
Methods:

Review of the literature on health disparities and mental retardation was performed using MEDLINE, PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsycInfo from 1992 to 2002.
Findings:

Deficiencies in care identified in the literature included general health screening and care for physical symptoms, mental health, women's care, dental services, health maintenance, and prevention.
Conclusions:

Disparities in health care place people with MR at high risk for morbidity and premature mortality.
Review of Intervention Studies of Families with Hospitalized Elderly Relatives
Authors: Li Hong , Melnyk Bernadette Mazurek , McCann Robert 
Published: March 2004

Purpose:

To critique intervention studies of family caregivers in the hospital care for elderly relatives for (a) synthesizing the characteristics of interventions and outcomes, (b) evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention studies, and (c) identifying the strengths and limitations of the intervention studies as a basis for future research.
Methods:

An integrated literature review was used to examine nine intervention studies (1983–2003) of adult family caregivers of older family members in the hospital setting.
Findings:

Although the existing intervention studies have provided a solid base for further study of family care for hospitalized elders, the analysis indicated the following limitations of the existing literature: (a) lack of a clearly defined theoretical framework to guide the interventions and selection of study variables, (b) lack of comparison groups and observation of interventions, and (c) limitations with generalizability of findings.
Conclusions:

Nine intervention studies of family caregivers in the hospital care of elderly patients age 60 years or above were found that were conducted in the past 10 years. Although progress has been made in family caregiving of hospitalized elders, future research should include outcomes based on well‐defined theoretical frameworks, control of confounding variables, and samples from diverse populations.
A Theory‐Driven Approach to Evaluating Quality of Nursing Care
Authors: Sidani Souraya , Doran Diane M. , Mitchell Pamela H. 
Published: March 2004

Purpose:

To review the propositions of a theory‐driven approach and to discuss its application to evaluating the quality of nursing care.
Organizing Framework:

The focus in the theory‐driven approach to evaluation is on identifying patient, professional, and setting characteristics that affect the processes of care at micro and meso levels, which in turn contribute to outcome achievement. Implications for examining the interrelationships among characteristics, processes, and outcomes are discussed and illustrated with examples from published research.
Conclusions:

Determining how these variables influence each other provides a valid and comprehensive understanding of the contribution of nursing within the health care system.
Economic and Clinical Disparities in Hospitalized Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Dowell Marsha A. , Rozell Billie , Roth David , Delugach Harry , Chaloux Patricia , Dowell Jennifer 
Published: March 2004

Purpose:

To identify and describe economic and clinical relationships and trends associated with selected access, equity, and outcome characteristics of a large inpatient population with Type 2 diabetes.
Design:

Longitudinal, descriptive cross‐sectional study with secondary analyses of data about 101,944 patients in hospitals in the United States (US), 40 years of age and older with a primary diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes from the Health Care Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP‐3) database for 1994–1997.
Methods:

Descriptive analysis, hierarchical, random‐effects regression modeling, and contrasts between covariate‐adjusted means. Hospital charge data were highly skewed in a positive direction requiring a logarithmic transformation. Variables for the study included both hospital and patient characteristics.
Findings:

Significant racial and sex disparities were found in health care access, equity, and outcomes, with equity characteristics showing alarming disparities in types of procedures (amputations and peripheral vascular bypass grafts) performed, lengths of stay, and dispositions.
Conclusions:

Disparities in health care access, equity, and outcomes continue to exist on the basis of sex, ethnicity, and age as well as the type and location of the hospital. Access and equity are values that, despite rhetoric in relation to health care utilization, have not been systematically attained.
Job Stress, Job Performance, and Social Support Among Hospital Nurses
Authors: AbuAlRub Raeda Fawzi 
Published: March 2004

Purpose:

To investigate (a) the effect of job‐related stress on job performance among hospital nurses, and (b) the effect of social support from coworkers on the stress‐performance relationship.
Design:

A correlational descriptive survey was used to investigate these relationships among a convenience sample of 263 American hospital nurses and 40 non‐American nurses who were accessible via the Internet.
Methods:

Data were collected using a Web‐based structured questionnaire, which included the Nursing Stress Scale, the Schwirian Six Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance, the McCain and Marklin Social Integration Scale, and the demographic form. Descriptive statistics, Pearson product‐moment correlations, and hierarchical regression techniques were used to analyze the data.
Findings:

Perceived social support from coworkers enhanced the level of reported job performance and decreased the level of reported job stress. The analysis also indicated a curvilinear (U‐shaped) relationship between job stress and job performance; nurses who reported moderate levels of job stress believed that they performed their jobs less well than did those who reported low or high levels of job stress.
Conclusions:

Results indicted the importance of social support from coworkers, as well as the need for further research to test the U‐shaped relationship between job stress and job performance.
Measuring Patient‐Level Clinical Outcomes of Home Health Care
Authors: Keepnews David , Capitman John A. , Rosati Robert J. 
Published: March 2004

Purpose:

To examine the use of the Outcomes Assessment and Information Set (OASIS) data to analyze patient‐level outcomes of home health care.
Design:

OASIS data were obtained on 1,015 patients who received home health care services for 60 days or fewer from a large, independent home health agency between August 1998 and December 1999.
Methods:

An index was constructed consisting of 16 OASIS measures, primarily activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Scores were computed for functional status on admission and at discharge. Predictors of functional status at discharge were identified by regression analysis.
Findings:

78.1% of patients improved, 18.5% declined, and 2.8% showed no change. The model explained 57.2% of variance in functional status at discharge. Age, visual impairment, having Medicaid as a payer, urinary incontinence, cognitive impairment, and use of unplanned or emergency care were negatively associated with functional outcomes of care. Being treated for open wounds or lesions, cardiovascular and orthopedic conditions were positively associated with functional outcomes.
Conclusions:

OASIS data can be used to analyze patient‐level functional outcomes of short‐term home health services. Further research is needed to continue refining methods of analyzing patient outcomes and their predictors.
Antibody Response of Healthy Adults to Recombinant Thrombospondin-Related Adhesive Protein of
Cryptosporidium
1 after Experimental Exposure to
Cryptosporidium
Oocysts
Authors: Okhuysen Pablo C. , Rogers G. Aaron , Crisanti Andrea , Spano Furio , Huang David B. , Chappell Cynthia L. , Tzipori Saul 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACT

Thrombospondin-related adhesive protein of
Cryptosporidium
1 (TRAP-C1) belongs to a group of proteins that are also found in
Toxoplasma gondii
,
Eimeria tenella
, and
Plasmodium
species. TRAP-related proteins are needed for gliding motility, host-cell attachment, and invasion. The objective of this study was to characterize the antibody response to recombinant TRAP-C1 (rTRAP-C1) in healthy volunteers exposed to
C. parvum
and their association with clinical illness. A total of 31 healthy adult volunteers participated. Seven volunteers received the
C. parvum
TAMU isolate (inocula, 10 to 300 oocysts), and 24 volunteers received the
C. parvum
UCP isolate (500 to 10
5
oocysts). The total antibody (immunoglobulin M [IgM], IgG, and IgA) response to rTRAP C-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays prior to and after exposure to
Cryptosporidium parvum
(days 0 to 45). Results of this study showed that individuals who were uninfected demonstrated higher reactivity at baseline compared to those who became infected. After challenge, increases in antibody reactivity were seen on days 30 and 45 compared to the results seen on days 0 to 5. The increases in antibody reactivity were statistically significant in subjects with diarrhea and with or without detectable oocysts compared to the results seen with those who were uninfected and asymptomatic. These findings suggest that increases in antibody reactivity to rTRAP-C1 occur after recent exposure to
C. parvum
.
Depressed Type 1 Cytokine Synthesis by Superantigen-Activated CD4
+
T Cells of Women with Human Papillomavirus-Related High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions
Authors: Lee Bang-Ning , Follen Michele , Shen De-Yu , Malpica Anais , Adler-Storthz Karen , Shearer William T. , Reuben James M. 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACT

Carcinoma of the cervix is causally related to infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), and T cells play a pivotal role in the immune response of the host to rid itself of HPV infection. Therefore, we assessed the T-cell function of women with HPV-related cervical neoplasia against a superantigen,
Staphylococcus
enterotoxin B (SEB). Each woman provided a cervical brush specimen for HPV DNA testing and Papanicolaou (Pap) smears for the staging of cervical lesions. They also provided a blood specimen for determination of the ability of CD4
+
T and CD8
+
T cells to synthesize Th1 (interleukin-2 [IL-2], gamma interferon [IFN-γ], and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]) and Th2 (IL-10) cytokines in response to activation with SEB. Compared with control subjects with self-attested negative Pap smears, women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) had significantly lower percentages of activated CD4
+
T cells that produced IL-2 (
P =
0.045), IFN-γ (
P =
0.040), and TNF-α (
P =
0.015) and a significantly lower percentage of activated CD8
+
T cells that produced IL-2 (
P
< 0.01). These data indicate that women with HPV-related cervical HSIL show a decrease in Th1 cytokine production by activated CD4
+
T cells and suggested that compromised T-helper functions may negatively impact the function of cytotoxic CD8
+
T cells.
Development of a Nucleoprotein-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Using a Synthetic Peptide Antigen for Detection of Avian Metapneumovirus Antibodies in Turkey Sera
Authors: Alvarez Rene , Njenga M. Kariuki , Scott Melissa , Seal Bruce S. 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACT
Avian metapneumoviruses (aMPV) cause an upper respiratory tract disease with low mortality but high morbidity, primarily in commercial turkeys, that can be exacerbated by secondary infections. There are three types of aMPV, of which type C is found only in the United States. The aMPV nucleoprotein (N) amino acid sequences of serotypes A, B, and C were aligned for comparative analysis. On the basis of the predicted antigenicity of consensus sequences, five aMPV-specific N peptides were synthesized for development of a peptide antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (aMPV N peptide-based ELISA) to detect aMPV-specific antibodies among turkeys. Sera from naturally and experimentally infected turkeys were used to demonstrate the presence of antibodies reactive to the chemically synthesized aMPV N peptides. Subsequently, aMPV N peptide 1, which had the sequence 10-DLSYKHAILKESQYTIKRDV-29, with variations at only three amino acids among aMPV serotypes, was evaluated as a universal aMPV ELISA antigen. Data obtained with the peptide-based ELISA correlated positively with total aMPV viral antigen-based ELISAs, and the peptide ELISA provided higher optical density readings. The results indicated that aMPV N peptide 1 can be used as a universal ELISA antigen to detect antibodies for all aMPV serotypes.
Rectal Nitric Oxide Gas and Stool Cytokine Levels during the Course of Infectious Gastroenteritis
Authors: Enocksson Anders , Lundberg Jon , Weitzberg Eddie , Norrby-Teglund Anna , Svenungsson Bo 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACT

Nitric oxide (NO) is known to be an important inflammatory mediator with a potential role in gastrointestinal diseases. We prospectively studied the luminal NO levels in 51 patients with infectious gastroenteritis, 35 patients with nonenteric bacterial infections, and 11 healthy control subjects. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines were simultaneously measured in the stools of patients with gastroenteritis. Rectal gas was sampled with balloon catheters made of silicone and was analyzed for NO levels by chemiluminescence. The median rectal NO level was 2,450 ppb in the acute phase of gastroenteritis and gradually decreased to 225 ppb after 3 to 8 weeks, whereas the median NO values were 150 ppb in patients with nonenteric bacterial infections and 100 ppb in healthy control subjects. Patients with
Salmonella
,
Shigella
, and
Campylobacter
infections generally had more severe symptoms and a higher median NO level (17,250 ppb) than patients with
Clostridium difficile
-associated diarrhea (median NO value, 275 ppb). Interleukin-1β levels were elevated in 82% of the patients at disease onset and decreased during the convalescent phase. In contrast, gamma interferon was detected in only 16% of the patients and was predominantly collected in stool samples collected during the subacute and convalescent stages. Our data point to the possibility of using this easy, minimally invasive method for luminal NO measurement as a diagnostic tool, among others, to evaluate the degree of intestinal inflammation in patients with infectious gastroenteritis.
Comparison of Benchtop Microplate Beta Counters with the Traditional Gamma Counting Method for Measurement of Chromium-51 Release in Cytotoxic Assays
Authors: Wallace Dora , Hildesheim Allan , Pinto Ligia A. 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACT

The most traditional method used to measure the lytic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes or natural killer (NK) cells is the chromium release assay (CRA). No study has been reported that systematically compares the traditional gamma counting method with various benchtop microplate scintillation formats to measure chromium release. Here we investigated the utilization of microplate beta counters in comparison with the traditional gamma counting method to quantitate antigen-specific cytolysis, lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity, and NK activity in the CRA. Supernatants from standard CRA (
n
= 7) were directly transferred to a 96-well microplate containing either a solid scintillant (Lumaplate) or a liquid scintillant (flexible beta plate). Samples were quantified by using two benchtop microplate beta counters, Wallac Microbeta Trilux (Lumalux and Trilux methods, respectively) and Packard TopCount instruments (TopCount method). These results were then compared with data from an identical assay run in parallel using the traditional gamma counting method (LKB). The lytic activity for influenza virus-stimulated effectors measured in the benchtop microplate beta counters using Lumalux and Trilux methods exhibited excellent correlations with the one measured in the traditional LKB (
r
= 0.967 and 0.968, respectively). The TopCount method demonstrated a similar correlation (
r
= 0.966). Similar findings were observed for LAK and NK activity. The 96-well microplate format, specifically the dry-scintillant Lumaplates, offers several advantages over the traditional gamma counting format. Most notable are the reductions in sample volume needed and in the total sample preparation and counting time. Furthermore, this system reduces the amount of dry and mixed radioactive waste generated while using the same instrument for gamma- and beta-emitting isotopes.
Role of C-Terminal Cysteine Residues ofAspergillus fumigatusAllergen Asp f 4 in Immunoglobulin E Binding
Authors: Ramachandran Harikrishnan , Banerjee Banani , Greenberger Paul A. , Kelly Kevin J. , Fink Jordan N. , Kurup Viswanath P. 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACTAmong the several allergens cloned and expressed fromAspergillus fumigatus, Asp f 4 is a major one associated with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). The structure-function relationship of allergens is important in understanding the immunopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of allergic diseases. These include the epitopes, conformational or linear, deletion of the N or C terminus or both N and C termini, and glycosylation or nonglycosylation, all of which affect immune responses. Similarly, the role of cysteine residues present in allergens may yield useful information regarding the conformational structure of allergens and the immunoglobulin E (IgE) epitope interaction. Such information may help in developing new strategies towards immunotherapy. In order to define the role of cysteine in the interaction of the antibody with Asp f 4, we have constructed mutants by selectively deleting cysteine residues from the C-terminal region of the Asp f 4. Immunological evaluation of these engineered recombinant constructs was conducted by using sera from patients with ABPA,Aspergillusskin test-positive asthmatics, and healthy controls. The results demonstrate strong IgE binding with Asp f 4 and two truncated mutants, Asp f 41-234(amino acids [aa] 1 to 234) and Asp f 41-241(aa 1 to 241), while another mutant, Asp f 41-196(aa 1 to 196), showed reactivity with fewer patients. The result suggests that deletion of cysteines and the alteration of IgE epitopes at the C-terminal end resulted in conformational changes, which may have a potential role in the immunomodulation of the disease.
Potential Serological Use of a Recombinant Protein That Is a Replica of aMycobacterium tuberculosisProtein Found in the Urine of Infected Mice
Authors: Mukherjee Sandeep , Daifalla Nada , Zhang Yanni , Douglass John , Brooks Lisa , Vedvick Thomas , Houghton Raymond , Reed Steven G. , Campos-Neto Antonio 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACTThe recent availability of numerous well-characterizedMycobacterium tuberculosisrecombinant proteins has revived interest in the serological diagnosis of tuberculosis. Several promising results have been reported, particularly when more than one antigen is used in the test. However, thus far these antigens have not been used in routine diagnostic tests because they lack sufficient sensitivity. In addition, with the exception of one antigen, most recombinantM. tuberculosisproteins do not identify the majority of tuberculosis patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Here, we report a newerM. tuberculosisprotein that is a promising candidate for increasing the sensitivity of the serological tests, in particular for patients coinfected with HIV. The protein was found in the urine of mice during the early stages of infection withM. tuberculosis(10 to 14 days), thus suggesting that the antigen is abundantly released during the in vivo growth of the mycobacterium. Reverse genetics was used to produce the recombinant protein, which we named U1 (for urine protein 1). Using a conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), antibody to U1 could be detected in 60% of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with no signs of coinfection with HIV (n= 83). Conversely, anti-U1 antibody was detected in 87% of the sera from tuberculosis patients coinfected with HIV (n= 47). Out of 12 HIV-infected nontuberculosis patients' sera, 9 did not react with U1 and three sera gave borderline ELISA signals (signal/cutoff of ≤1.75). These results suggest that the high efficiency of U1 in identifying tuberculosis patients coinfected with HIV may be related to abundant release of this protein during the initial phase of the HIV coinfection. The immediate availability of the antigen at a time point in which the patient's immune system is still competent would lead to a secondary immune response to U1 that persists for months in the patient's serum.