bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physician Reimbursement Levels and Adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics Well-Visit and Immunization Recommendations
Authors: McInerny Thomas K. , Cull William L. , Yudkowsky Beth K. 
Published: April 2005

Background. There is concern that commercial health insurance reimbursement levels for immunizations and well-child visits may not be meeting the delivery and practice overhead costs within some areas of the country. There is also concern that insufficient physician reimbursement levels may negatively affect the quality of children’s health care.Objective. We examined the relationships between commercial health insurance reimbursement levels to physicians for pediatric services and rates of immunization and well visits for children and adolescents.Design. Quality of care was measured by examining state-level immunization and well-visit rates for 2002, which were obtained from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS). Reimbursement data were obtained from the American Academy of Pediatrics Medical Cost Model. Variations in the child and adolescent HEDIS measures were examined as a function of physician reimbursement levels for pediatric services across states. HEDIS data were available for a total of 32 states. Partial correlations controlled for pediatrician concentration, as collected from the US Bureau of the Census and the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile data.Results. Compliance with HEDIS immunization rates for all recommended vaccines was 60% for children and 24% for adolescents. By excluding the varicella vaccine, these rates increased to 70% for children and 44% for adolescents. Adherence rates for well visits were also higher for infants (60%) and children (59%) than for adolescents (34%). Physician reimbursement levels for pediatric services varied from $16.88 per member per month to $32.06 per member per month across states. Statistically significant positive correlations for reimbursement levels were found for 8 of the 16 HEDIS measures examined. Correlations with reimbursement levels were found for childhood immunizations (r = 0.42), infant well visits (r = 0.44), childhood well visits (r = 0.46), and adolescent well visits (r = 0.42). Reimbursement levels were especially strongly related to the rates of adolescent varicella vaccination (r = 0.53). When partial correlations were examined to control for pediatrician concentration, the correlations were reduced by 0.09 on average, suggesting that pediatrician supply may serve as an intermediary of the reimbursement relationship.Conclusions. Immunization and well-visit rates for infants, children, and adolescents were positively linked with physician reimbursement rates for those services. Although methodologic limitations suggest caution when interpreting these findings, more attention should be given to physician reimbursement levels as a possible predictor of immunization and well-visit rates as measures of quality of care and to the importance of reimbursement levels for pediatrician recruitment.
Safety and Efficacy of the Nicotine Patch and Gum for the Treatment of Adolescent Tobacco Addiction
Authors: Moolchan Eric T. , Robinson Miqun L. , Ernst Monique , Cadet Jean Lud , Pickworth Wallace B. , Heishman Stephen J. , Schroeder Jennifer R. 
Published: April 2005

Objectives. To determine the safety and efficacy of the nicotine patch and gum for adolescents who want to quit smoking.Design. Double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, 3-arm trial with a nicotine patch (21 mg), nicotine gum (2 and 4 mg), or a placebo patch and gum; all participants received cognitive-behavioral group therapy.Setting. Inner-city, outpatient clinic on the East Coast.Subjects. Thirteen- to 17-year-old adolescents who smoked ≥10 cigarettes per day (CPD), scored ≥5 on the Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence, and were motivated to quit smoking.Intervention. Twelve weeks of nicotine patch or gum therapy with cognitive-behavioral therapy, with a follow-up visit at 6 months (3 months after the end of treatment).Main Outcome Measures. Safety assessed on the basis of adverse event reports for all 3 groups, prolonged abstinence, assessed through self-report and verified with exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) levels of ≤6 ppm, in intent-to-treat analyses, and smoking reduction (CPD and thiocyanate concentrations) among trial completers.Results. A total of 120 participants were randomized (72% white, 70% female; age: 15.2 ± 1.33 years; smoking: 18.8 ± 8.56 CPD; Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence score: 7.04 ± 1.29) from 1999 to 2003. Participants started smoking at 11.2 ± 1.98 years of age and had been smoking daily for 2.66 ± 1.56 years; 75% had at least 1 current psychiatric diagnosis. Mean compliance across groups was higher for the patch (mean: 78.4–82.8%) than for the gum (mean: 38.5–50.7%). Both the patch and gum were well tolerated, and adverse events were similar to those reported in adult trials. Changes in mean saliva cotinine concentrations throughout treatment were not statistically significant. Intent-to-treat analyses of all randomized participants showed CO-confirmed prolonged abstinence rates of 18% for the active-patch group, 6.5% for the active-gum group, and 2.5% for the placebo group; the difference between the active-patch and placebo arms was statistically significant. There was no significant effect of patch versus gum or gum versus placebo on cessation outcomes. Abstinence rates at the 3-month follow-up assessment were sustained but were not significantly associated with treatment group. Mean smoking rates, but not CO or thiocyanate concentrations, decreased significantly in all 3 arms but not as a function of treatment group.Conclusions. Nicotine patch therapy combined with cognitive-behavioral intervention was effective, compared with placebo, for treatment of tobacco dependence among adolescent smokers. Decreases in the numbers of cigarettes smoked appeared to be offset by compensatory smoking. Additional study of nicotine gum, with enhanced instructional support, is needed to assess its efficacy among adolescent smokers.
A National Survey of Pediatric Critical Care Resources in the United States
Authors: Odetola Folafoluwa O. , Clark Sarah J. , Freed Gary L. , Bratton Susan L. , Davis Matthew M. 
Published: April 2005

Objective. To characterize resources available for the care of critically ill and injured children in the United States.
Study Design. In January through May 2004, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of medical directors of intensive care facilities for children.
Results. Pediatric critical care medical directors from 257 of 337 eligible hospitals responded to the survey (response rate: 76%). The median number of beds was 12 (interquartile range: 8–17 beds), with a median of 58 admissions per PICU bed (interquartile range: 44–70 admissions per PICU bed) in 2003. The median numbers of admissions per PICU bed were not statistically different among PICUs of different sizes. Fewer than 6% of hospitals shared PICU space with space for critically ill adults. The smallest units (1–6 beds) had higher physician and nurse staffing ratios per PICU bed. Advanced therapeutic technology, particularly renal replacement and inhaled nitric oxide therapy, was significantly more likely to be available in larger PICUs (≥7 beds).
Conclusions. PICUs with the fewest beds had higher physician and nurse staffing ratios per PICU bed and lower resource capacity for high-intensity renal and respiratory therapy. The impact of PICU resource availability on referral patterns and outcomes of pediatric critical illnesses warrants additional study.
Growth Hormone Therapy for Children Born Small for Gestational Age: Height Gain Is Less Dose Dependent Over the Long Term Than Over the Short Term
Authors: de Zegher Francis , Hokken-Koelega Anita 
Published: April 2005

Background. Approximately 3% of children are born small for gestational age (SGA), and ∼10% of SGA children maintain a small body size throughout childhood and often into adult life. Among short SGA children, growth hormone (GH) therapy increases short-term growth in a dose-dependent manner; experience with long-term therapy is limited.Objective. To delineate the dose dependency of long-term height gain among short SGA children receiving GH therapy.Methods. We performed an epianalysis of the first adult height data for SGA children (n = 28) enrolled in 3 randomized trials comparing the growth-promoting efficacy of 2 continuous GH regimens (33 or 67 μg/kg per day for ∼10 years, starting at ∼5 years of age); in addition, we performed a meta-analysis of the adult height results published previously and those presented here.Results. Epianalysis outcomes (n = 28) suggested that adult height increased more with a higher-dose regimen than with a lower-dose regimen. In the meta-analysis (n = 82), the higher-dose regimen was found to elicit a long-term height gain superior to that achieved with the lower-dose regimen by a mean of 0.4 SD (∼1 inch). Children who were shorter at the start of therapy experienced more long-term height gain.Conclusions. These findings confirm GH therapy as an effective and safe approach to reduce the adult height deficit that short SGA children otherwise face. In addition, the first meta-analysis indicated that height gain is less dose dependent over the long term than over the short term, at least within the dose range explored to date. For SGA children whose stature is not extremely short, current data support the use of a GH dose of ∼33 μg/kg per day from start to adult height, particularly if treatment starts at a young age; shorter children (for example, height below −3 SD) might benefit from an approach in which short-term catch-up growth is achieved with a higher dose (≥50 μg/kg per day) and long-term growth to adult height is ensured with a GH dose of ∼33 μg/kg per day. Because GH-induced accelerations of height and weight gain evolve in parallel, the dose tapering from ≥50 μg/kg to ∼33 μg/kg can be accomplished by simply maintaining the absolute GH dose (in micrograms) while the child gains weight (in kilograms). With this algorithm, more growth-responsive children taper their GH dose down to ∼33 μg/kg per day more quickly.
High‐temperature oxidation of a metal particle: Nonisothermal model
Authors: Filimonov Igor , Luss Dan 
Published: March 2005

AbstractA transient electric voltage of the order of 1 V may form during the combustion of a metal particle. The electrical field may form due to the different diffusion rate of the positive and negative charge carriers through a growing mixed‐ionic‐electronic conducting oxide shell. Unlike previous models, the effect of ambient gaseous oxygen transport to the particle surface is accounted for and steady‐state and charge neutrality in the oxide layer is not a priori assumed. Four key parameters affect the voltage‐temperature formation. The ratio between charge carries diffusion coefficients determines the surface electric potential amplitude, polarization and the time delay between the maximums of particle potential and temperature. The larger the difference between the diffusion coefficients, the greater is the voltage and the longer is the combustion time and the shorter is the time delay. The convection and radiation heat‐transfer coefficients exert a major impact on the time delay between the maximum of the surface electric potential and that of the temperature. The maximum electric potential and temperature are achieved almost at the same time when the transport coefficients are sufficiently large. This time difference decreases as either the heat‐transfer coefficients or the difference between the diffusion coefficients increase. Increasing the activation energy of the adsorption strongly decreased the oxidation, temperature and surface electric potential rate of rise during the early stage of the oxidation. Increasing the activation energy of the desorption increased the duration of the temperature and the potential drop in the later stage of the reaction. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Uncatalyzed and wall‐catalyzed forward water–gas shift reaction kinetics
Authors: Bustamante F. , Enick R. M. , Killmeyer R. P. , Howard B. H. , Rothenberger K. S. , Cugini A. V. , Morreale B. D. , Ciocco M. V. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe kinetics of the high‐temperature (1070–1134 K), low‐ and high‐pressure gas‐phase forward water–gas shift reaction (fWGSR) were evaluated in an empty quartz reactor and a quartz reactor packed with quartz particles. The power‐law expression for the reaction rate was consistent with the Bradford mechanism and was invariant with respect to pressure. The experimental rate constant was lower than that published by Graven and Long, and slightly higher than estimates obtained using the reaction rate expression derived from the Bradford mechanism in conjunction with values of reaction rate constants obtained from the GRI database. Similar experiments conducted using a reactor composed of Inconel® 600, a representative reactor shell material, exhibited substantially enhanced rates of reaction. A simple power‐law rate expression was incorporated into a surface‐catalyzed plug flow reactor (PFR) model to correlate the results between 600 and 900 K. Palladium and palladium–copper alloy surfaces, representative of hydrogen membranes, were also shown to enhance the fWGSR rate, but not as much as the Inconel® 600 surfaces. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Kinetic modeling of the reaction between hydrated lime and SO2 at low temperature
Authors: Bausach M. , Pera‐Titus M. , Fité C. , Cunill F. , Izquierdo J.‐F. , Tejero J. , Iborra M. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe kinetics of the noncatalytic solid–gas reaction between Ca(OH)2 and SO2 at low temperature and in the presence of water vapor was investigated. The effect of relative humidity, temperature, and SO2 concentration on the desulfurization capacity of the solid was evaluated, as well as the effect of NO2 concentration. A deactivation model (DM) and a new version of this model, by implementing an inverse shrinking core model (DM‐ISCM) with an ionic solid‐state diffusion control, were fitted to experimental kinetic data. The proposed model showed the best agreement with the experimental results. A chemical mechanism for the reaction on the solid surface was also discussed. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Flow maldistribution at bubble cap distributor in a plant‐scale circulating fluidized bed riser
Authors: Guo Qingjie , Werther Joachim , Aue‐Klett Cornelis , Hartge Ernst‐Ulrich 
Published: March 2005

AbstractFlow maldistribution was investigated in an 8.5 m high circulating fluidized bed with a rectangular cross section of 1 × 0.3 m using a 14‐bubble‐cap distributor and a 33‐bubble‐cap distributor. Experimental results indicate that the bubble caps in the center region have a large flow rate and the bubble caps at the wall region have a small flow rate. The extent of the flow maldistribution is quantitatively characterized by the ratio of the maximum flow rate through a bubble cap to the average flow rate through all bubble caps (maldistribution number, Vmax/Vav). A correlation is proposed for predicting flow rate distribution, maldistribution number, in the bubble cap distributor by the ratio of distributor pressure drop to riser pressure drop (pressure‐drop ratio, ΔPd/ΔPr). © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Influence of plasma reactor structure on methanol oxidation
Authors: Yao S. , Zhang X. , Lu B. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractPlasma oxidation of methanol (CH3OH) in oxygen and nitrogen was investigated using two dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactors with or without Al2O3 as a catalyst and using a DC circle‐to‐plate (CTP) reactor. An AC power supply was used for the DBD reactors to generate corona discharges. A DC power supply, a 20‐MΩ resistor, and a 100‐pF capacitor were used to yield pulselike discharges. CH3OH was oxidized to formaldehyde (HCHO), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2). HCHO was the main product when using DBD reactors and without Al2O3. CO was the main product when using the DBD reactor with Al2O3 and CTP reactor. Al2O3 could inhibit CH3OH further oxidation. The energy efficiency of the DBD reactors decreased with increasing power input and power density. The energy efficiency of the CTP reactor peaked with 7 g CH3OH/kWh that was three times as high as that with the DBD reactors at the same power input. Furthermore, the power density of the CTP reactor was higher than that of the DBD reactors, implying that the CTP reactor could be used for CH3OH oxidation with a small discharge space volume. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Molecular genetic confirmatory testing from newborn screening samples for the common African‐American, Asian Indian, Southeast Asian, and Chinese β‐thalassemia mutations
Authors: Bhardwaj Urvashi , Zhang Yao‐Hua , Lorey Fred , McCabe Linda L. , McCabe Edward R.B. 
Published: March 2005

Abstractβ‐Thalassemia is a serious health problem in the United States, especially in California, due to increased Asian immigration. Neonatal screening by using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or isoelectric focusing (IEF) may lead to confusion due to interactions of various hemoglobinopathies with β‐thalassemia. Our purpose was to develop single‐tube multiplexed PCR assays using original neonatal screening specimens to identify the mutations responsible for β‐thalassemia in order to expedite diagnostic confirmation. Primers were designed for two to six common ethnic‐specific mutations using the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS). This multiplex ARMS approach was standardized using DNA samples with known mutations for β‐thalassemia in those of Asian (Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Asian Indian) and African‐American descent. Specimens from African‐American neonates were tested for two mutations (−88 and −29); Asian Indians for five mutations (IVSI‐1, IVSI‐5, codons (Cd) 41/42, Cd 8/9, and 619‐bp deletion); Chinese, Taiwanese, and Southeast Asians for seven mutations (Cd 41/42, Cd 17, −28, IVSII‐654, Cd 71/72, IVSI‐5, and IVSI‐1). We identified each of these β‐thalassemia mutations in multiplexed ARMS from positive control samples. We tested 25 anonymized dried blood specimens from neonates who had been diagnosed with β‐thalassemia and who also belonged to these ethnic groups. We detected a mutation specific to the neonate's ethnic group using the ARMS approach in nearly all specimens, and the results were confirmed by sequencing. Multiplexed ARMS for ethnic‐specific β‐thalassemia mutations from the original newborn screening dried blood specimens is a rapid and efficient approach for diagnostic confirmation. Am. J. Hematol. 78:249–255, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intravenous iron in a primary‐care clinic
Authors: Maslovsky I. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe preferable route of iron delivery for most iron‐deficient patients is oral. Parenteral iron therapy is used in patients who cannot tolerate oral iron or in cases in which oral iron is not sufficiently effective. The most frequent indications for parenteral iron therapy are unbearable gastrointestinal side effects induced by oral iron itself, worsening of inflammatory bowel disease symptoms, insufficient intestinal absorption, renal failure‐caused anemia that is treated with erythropoietin, and unresolved ongoing bleeding, which would cause the acceptable oral doses of iron therapy to be exceeded. The serious adverse effects of iron dextran that was used in the past could explain the reluctance of medical personnel to prescribe this effective treatment. Patients with iron deficiency anemia were treated with intravenous iron in a primary care clinic. The iron gluconate was given in a dosage of 62.5 mg diluted in 150 mL of normal saline and was infused intravenously over 30 min, while iron sucrose was given in a dosage of 100 mg diluted in the same volume of normal saline and given at the same rate. In total, 724 infusions were administered to 57 patients. Iron sucrose was used in 628 infusions, and iron gluconate was used in the remaining 96. The frequency of the infusion treatments depended on the underlying disease and ranged from three times a week to once a month. Adverse effects were seldom observed and were minor in patients receiving iron gluconate, and were not registered at all in patients treated with iron sucrose. Two cases of flushing with paresthesias occurred. Slowing the infusion rate successfully eliminated these side effects. One case of hypotension was treated successfully with 500 cc of normal saline infusion. One case of dropout occurred, due to the patient's refusal to cooperate. No anaphylactic reactions were observed. Iron gluconate and iron sucrose are effective and safe for use in primary care clinics. The risk of adverse effects is low. Am. J. Hematol. 78:261–264, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Primary plasma cell leukemia: Report of 17 new cases treated with autologous or allogeneic stem‐cell transplantation and review of the literature
Authors: Saccaro Steven , Fonseca Rafael , Veillon Diana M. , Cotelingam James , Nordberg Mary L. , Bredeson Christopher , Glass Jonathan , Munker Reinhold 
Published: March 2005

AbstractPrimary plasma cell leukemia (PPCL) is a rare hematologic malignancy characterized by the proliferation of plasma cells in blood, bone marrow, and other organs in the absence of established multiple myeloma. PPCL has a poor prognosis when treated with conventional therapy for multiple myeloma. We describe here 17 new cases of PPCL who underwent stem‐cell transplantation (SCT) (2 cases observed by the authors and 15 cases from the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry [IBMTR]). The first case was diagnosed in a 21‐year‐old male who presented with leukocytosis and acute renal failure. He was treated with hyper‐CVAD, entered complete remission, and then proceeded to high‐dose chemotherapy with peripheral stem‐cell support. He is currently in complete remission 23 months after initial diagnosis and 19 months after autologous SCT. The second case was observed in a 31‐year‐old male who presented with leukocytosis and hepatic infiltration with plasma cells. He was treated with VAD chemotherapy and underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from his HLA‐identical sister. He remained in complete remission for 3 years and then developed progressive refractory disease, dying 7 years after the initial diagnosis. In addition to these 2 cases, 15 further unpublished cases of PPCL from the IBMTR are reported here (treated between 1993 and 2001, 6 by autologous and 9 by allogeneic transplantation). Finally, the features of PPCL, the outcome, published data of SCT for PPCL, and indications for treatment are discussed. Am. J. Hematol. 78:288–294, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acute leukemia associated with valproic acid treatment: A novel mechanism for leukemogenesis?
Authors: Coyle Thomas E. , Bair Alicia K. , Stein Constance , Vajpayee Neerja , Mehdi Syed , Wright Jonathan 
Published: March 2005

AbstractValproic acid has been previously associated with hematologic toxicity, including a reversible myelodysplasia‐like syndrome without chromosomal abnormalities. We now report three cases of acute leukemia with features of secondary leukemia associated with valproic acid therapy: two cases of acute myelogenous leukemia with multilineage dysplasia, one with trisomy 8 and one with monosomy 7, and one case of secondary acute lymphoblastic leukemia with del (7) (q22q34), del (9) (q21.11q22), del (11) (q12q23). One patient had a previous myelodysplastic syndrome while on valproic acid. Valproic acid has been previously shown to be a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Inhibition of histone deacetylase causes a relaxation of chromatin structure and thus increases susceptibility to DNA damage and sensitizes cells to radiation. We propose that valproic acid therapy may lead to secondary leukemia by increasing DNA damage through chronic inhibition of histone deacetylase. Am. J. Hematol. 78:256–260, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.