bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of perception and touch for detecting fever in adults: a hospital‐based study from a rural, tertiary hospital in Central India
Authors: Singh Manoj , Pai Madhukar , Kalantri S. P. 
Published: December 2004

Summaryobjectives To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the patient's perception, and of the touch of patient attendants and a doctor for detecting fever.methods We enrolled patients older than 13 years who presented with history of fever to the in‐ and out‐patient departments of a rural teaching hospital. The design was a double‐blind, cross‐sectional analysis of a hospital‐based case series, independently comparing reported history of fever and touch of patient attendant and that of doctor against an established reference standard (axillary temperature > 37.5 °C). Diagnostic accuracy was measured by computing sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio values. The agreement between the patient, his attendant and the doctor was assessed by kappa statistic.results We studied 462 patients of whom 274 (59.3%) were men. A total of 206 patients (44.58%) had fever. The patient's perception of fever (LR+ 1.77; 95% CI 1.52, 2.06), patient attendant's touch (LR+ 2.03; 95% CI 1.74, 2.36) and the doctor's touch (LR+ 3.08; 95% CI 2.51, 3.71) did not accurately distinguish those with and without fever. Doctors (LR− 0.20; 95% CI 0.17, 0.34) and patient attendants (LR− 0.24; 95% CI 0.14, 0.28) were more accurate in ruling out fever. The patient's perception agreed moderately with patient attendant's touch (κ = 0.44; 95% CI 0.36, 0.53), and the doctor's assessment (κ = 0.47; 95% CI 0.39, 0.55). There was moderate agreement between patients' attendants and the study doctor (κ = 0.48; 95% CI 0.40, 0.56).conclusions Our findings suggest that patients, their attendants or doctors cannot accurately detect the presence of a fever without using a thermometer. Doctors should confirm a history of fever by recording temperature.
Adherence to tuberculosis treatment: lessons from the urban setting of Delhi, India
Authors: Jaiswal A. , Singh V. , Ogden J. A. , Porter J. D. H. , Sharma P. P. , Sarin R. , Arora V. K. , Jain R. C. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), which incorporated the WHO DOTS strategy* was introduced in India in the mid‐1990s. An operational research project was conducted between 1996 and 1998 to assess the needs and perspectives of patients and providers in two chest clinics in Delhi, Moti Nagar and Nehru Nagar, during the introduction of the new strategy. This paper reports on the findings of the project, concentrating on information collected from 40 in‐depth interviews with patient defaulters and from non‐participant observations in clinics and directly observed treatment centres. In Moti Nagar chest clinic, 117 of 1786 (6.5%) patients and 195 of 1890 (10%) patients in Nehru Nagar left care before their treatment was complete. It was argued that the reasons for default stem from a poor correlation between patient and programme needs and priorities, and from particular characteristics of the disease and its treatment. Patient needs that were not met by the health system included convenient clinic timings, arrangements for the provision for treatment in the event of a family emergency and provision for complicated cases like alcoholics. The problems facing the provider were poor interpersonal communication with the health staff, lack of attention and support at the clinic, difficulty for patients to re‐enter the system if they missed treatment and, in certain areas, long distances to the clinic. Problems related to diseases were inability of the staff to deal with drug side‐effects, and patients’ conception of equating well‐being with cure. Simple, practical measures could improve the provision of tuberculosis (TB) treatment: more flexible hours, allowances for poor patients to reach the clinics and training health care staff for respectful communication and monitoring drug side‐effects. The findings indicate a need to rethink the label of ‘defaulter’ often given to the patients. The important areas for future operational research is also highlighted.
Performance of Sahli and colour scale methods in diagnosing anaemia among school children in low prevalence areas
Authors: Barduagni Paolo , Ahmed Ahmed Saad , Curtale Filippo , Raafat Mohamed , Soliman Layla 
Published: December 2004

SummaryOur aim was to compare the performance of the Sahli and Colour Scale methods in diagnosing anaemia in school children, where the prevalence of anaemia is low and the haemoglobin level ranges from mild to moderate (8–11 g/dl). The study was conducted in February 2001, in Qena Governorate, Upper Egypt. The haemoglobin level measured by the two methods in each child were compared with the result obtained by using a portable haemoglobin photometer ‘HemoCue’. A total of 149 school children were included in the study. Using HemoCue, 17.4% children were anaemic; using the Sahli method (SM), 66.4% children were anaemic; and using the Haemoglobin Colour Scale (HCS) method, 57.7% children were anaemic. Neither method detected any cases of severe anaemia (Hb < 7 g/dl). Both the Sahli and Colour Scale methods are sensitive but have low specificity, giving a high rate of false positive results. Both methods perform perform very similarly in haemoglobin measurement; they fulfil many of the criteria for their use at primary health care level and detect almost all cases of anaemia in a given population, even if the level of anaemia is mild. Standards for collection, handling and disposal of blood samples are guaranteed more easily by the HCS than the SM. Moreover, lay people can easily manage the HCS with success after brief training. We suggest to gradually replace the SM by the HCS method in primary health care (PHC) centres. Where anaemia levels are moderate to mild, the use of SM and HCS as tools to define anaemia prevalence might be limited, as they often label healthy individuals as anaemic. Both methods remain a useful diagnostic tool to confirm the diagnosis of clinically suspected anaemia in areas where the prevalence of anaemia is low and the haemoglobin level ranges from mild to moderate.
Performance of the Haemoglobin Colour Scale in diagnosing severe and very severe anaemia
Authors: Montresor Antonio , Ramsan Mahdi , Khalfan Nassor , Albonico Marco , Stoltzfus Rebecca J. , Tielsch James M. , Savioli Lorenzo 
Published: December 2004

SummaryObjective To assess the accuracy of Haemoglobin Colour Scale (HCS) in identifying severely anaemic [haemoglobin (Hb) <7 g/dl] and very severely anaemic (Hb <5 g/dl) individuals, and to compare the performances of a group of health workers using HCS after training with a standard method.Method The study consisted of two parts. In part 1, the performance of HCS was compared with clinical examination in a hospital population of which more than 450 individuals were severely anaemic and more than 120 very severely anaemic. Part 2 of the study was conducted in eight dispensaries where the performances of 13 health workers using the colour scale were compared with the performances of eight other health workers using clinical signs to estimate Hb.Results The colour scale was 92% sensitive for both severe anaemia and very severe anaemia and performed better than clinical examination. Health workers who used the colour scale did better in identifying anaemic and severely anaemic individuals, than those who used clinical examination.Conclusions The colour scale improves health workers’ capacity to identify severely anaemic individuals and could be used as a basis for referral. Although the diagnostic accuracy of the workers using HCS varied widely, in most cases they did significantly better than those who used clinical investigation alone.
Stage determination and therapeutic decision in human African trypanosomiasis: value of polymerase chain reaction and immunoglobulin M quantification on the cerebrospinal fluid of sleeping sickness patients in Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Jamonneau V. , Solano P. , Garcia A. , Lejon V. , Djé N. , Miezan T. W. , N'Guessan P. , Cuny G. , Büscher P. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryIn human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), two disease stages are defined: the first, or haemo‐lymphatic stage, and the second, or meningo‐encephalitic stage. Stage determination forms the basis of therapeutic decision and is of prime importance, as the drug used to cure second‐stage patients has considerable side‐effects. However, the tests currently used for stage determination have low sensitivity or specificity. Two new tests for stage determination in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were evaluated on 73 patients diagnosed with HAT in Côte d'Ivoire. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detecting trypanosome DNA (PCR/CSF) is an indirect test for trypanosome detection whereas the latex agglutination test detecting immunoglobulin M (LATEX/IgM) is an indicator for neuro‐inflammation. Both tests were compared with classically used tests, double centrifugation and white blood cell count of the CSF. PCR/CSF appeared to be the most sensitive test (96%), and may be of use to improve stage determination. However, its value for therapeutic decision appears limited, as patients whose CSF was positive with PCR were successfully treated with pentamidine. This result confirms those of previous works that showed that some patients with trypanosomes in the CSF could be treated successfully with pentamidine. LATEX/IgM, which depending on the cut‐off, showed lower sensitivity of 76% and 88%, but higher specificity of 83% and 71% for LATEX/IgM 16 and LATEX/IgM 8 respectively, appears more appropriate for therapeutic decision making.
Retrospective evaluation of steroid hormone intermediates in dogs with alopecia
Authors: Frank L. A. , Hnilica K. A. , Oliver J. W. 
Published: December 2004

The purpose of this study was to determine if there are specific steroid hormonal aberrations associated with suspect endocrine alopecias in dogs where hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism have been excluded. Steroid hormone panels submitted to the UTCVM endocrinology laboratory over a 7.5‐year period (783 samples) from dogs with alopecia were reviewed. To be included in the final analysis, complete information about age, sex, neuter status and breed was required; hypothyroidism had been ruled out; and cortisol concentration post‐ACTH stimulation was less than 200 ng mL−1. A total of 276 dogs met the criteria for inclusion (seven intact females, 32 intact males, 134 spayed females, 103 neutered males) and comprised of 54 different breeds. Approximately 73% of dogs had at least one steroid hormone intermediate greater than the normal range. The most frequent hormone elevation was noted in baseline and/or post‐ACTH stimulation progesterone (57.9% of samples). Breeds that contained seven or more dogs were statistically compared. Only malamute dogs failed to show an increase in progesterone for any dog. When compared with normal dogs, oestradiol was significantly greater in keeshond dogs and baseline progesterone was significantly greater in pomeranians and husky breed dogs. While significant difference existed among breeds, neither baseline nor post‐stimulation 17‐hydroxyprogesterone differed significantly from normal values. Chow‐chow and malamute dogs had the greatest percentage of dogs with completely normal steroid hormone intermediates. Results of this study suggest that the pathomechanism of the alopecia, at least for some breeds, may not relate to steroid hormone intermediates. Funded by the Companion Animal Fund, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences.
The clinical and immunological reaction to a flavoured monthly oral heartworm prophylatic in 12 dogs with spontaneous food allergy
Authors: Jackson H. A. , Hammerberg B. 
Published: December 2004

There is debate among practicing veterinary dermatologists as to whether flavoured prophylactics should be avoided in the food‐allergic dog. At North Carolina State University we have a colony of dogs with spontaneous food allergy. They are maintained on a hypoallergenic diet (Prescription diet d/d Duck and Rice, Hills Pet Nutrition, Topeka, KS). A flavoured chewable tablet containing pork liver, soy and 2.3 mg of milbemycin (Interceptor Flavor Tabs, Novartis Animal Health, Greensboro, NC) was administered under controlled conditions to 12 dogs. Previous exposure to this medication was documented. A physical examination was performed prior to, and on four occasions after, tablet administration. A clinical score (CS) was assigned to determine the severity of skin and otic disease. Serum was collected at 3‐ to 5‐day intervals. Allergen‐specific IgE (soy, pork and corn) was measured by ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS software (Cary, NC, USA) and a longitudinal mixed model was employed for the evaluation of the clinical response. An increased CS was observed in 10 dogs post‐challenge; peak values were measured on day 2 (five dogs) and day 5 (five dogs). When compared with pre‐treatment CS this increase was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Significant peaks in serum allergen‐specific IgE were measured on days 5 and 20 to soy, pork and corn. The authors conclude that these dogs have a rapid adverse clinical response to this flavoured medication which is accompanied by a significant increase in serum allergen‐specific IgE, although this does not necessarily correlate with the orally administered allergen.
Synergistic inhibition of the growthin vitroofMicrosporum canisby miconazole and chlorhexidine
Authors: Perrins N. , Bond R. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract An agar dilution technique was used to assess the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of miconazole, chlorhexidine and a 1:1 combination of both agents for 10 isolates ofMicrosporum canis. For nine of 10 of the isolates, a combination of miconazole and chlorhexidine was more effective than either agent alone; fractional inhibitory concentration indices indicated a synergistic effect for five isolates and an additive effect for four. These results illustrate the potent antimycotic effect of miconazole and chlorhexidine againstM. canisand are in accordance with previous clinical studies that showed the value of using miconazole and chlorhexidine shampoo in association with oral griseofulvin in the treatment of feline dermatophytosis caused byM. canis.
Effect ofn‐3 fatty acid ratio and dose on clinical manifestations, plasma fatty acids and inflammatory mediators in dogs with pruritus
Authors: Nesbitt Gene H. , Freeman Lisa M. , Hannah Steven S. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe use ofn‐3 fatty acids is often recommended to manage pruritus. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of various doses ofn‐3 fatty acids at differentn‐6:n‐3 ratios on plasma fatty acids, clinical response and inflammatory mediators in pruritic dogs. After baseline assessment, dogs were randomly assigned to receive diets varying in both totaln‐3 andn‐6 fatty acid dose andn‐6:n‐3 ratio. The total clinical score decreased significantly in all four diet groups after 8 weeks with no difference between groups. Plasma fatty acid changes generally mirrored the fatty acid content of the test diets, although alterations appeared to depend on both the dose ofn‐3 fatty acids and then‐6:n‐3 ratio. In this clinical trial, which controlled dietary intake of fatty acids,n‐3 fatty acid supplementation did not appear to have an added benefit on clinical signs over thorough clinical management.
The effect of sowing date, stale seedbed, row width and mechanical weed control on weeds and yields of organic winter wheat
Authors: Rasmussen I A 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThree field experiments were carried out in organically grown winter wheat in Denmark. The treatments were sowing time (normal or late sowing) and false seedbed, row width (12 and 24 cm) and weed control method [untreated; mechanical weed control (weed harrowing at 12 cm supplemented with inter‐row hoeing at 24 cm); and herbicide weed control]. Weed biomass in midsummer was greatest on plots sown at the normal sowing time (compared with delayed sowing) and was reduced by mechanical or chemical weed control (compared with untreated plots). Row width alone had no influence on weed biomass, but in the experiment with high weed pressure, the more intensive mechanical weed control used at a row width of 24 cm reduced weed biomass. Normal sowing time tended to give higher yields, but this was only statistically significant in one of the three experiments. Wide rows gave a yield decrease in the experiment with low weed pressure. The effect of weed control on yield was dependent on the weed pressure. At low weed pressure, mechanical weed control caused a yield decrease compared with untreated or herbicide treated. At intermediate weed levels there were no differences, whereas at high weed pressure, mechanical weed control and herbicide treatment caused a yield increase compared with untreated. False seedbeds were shown to contribute to a decrease in the soil seed reserve.
Variation in resistance to Orobanche crenata in species of Cicer
Authors: Rubiales D , Alcántara C , Sillero J C 
Published: December 2004

SummaryCrenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata) is a major constraint for legume cultivation in Mediterranean agriculture. Field trials, pot and in vitro experiments demonstrated that resistance to O. crenata is present in chickpea and wild species of Cicer. The resistance is the result of the combination of several mechanisms, including low induction of parasite seed germination and in some accessions, either a darkening at the infection site on the host root that prevents establishment, or a reduced development of established parasite tubercles.
Combining competition from Lolium perenne and an insect–fungus combination to control Rumex obtusifolius seedlings
Authors: Keary I P , Hatcher P E 
Published: December 2004

SummaryAlthough adult Rumex obtusifolius are problematic weeds, their seedlings are poor competitors against Lolium perenne, particularly in established swards. We investigated the possibility of using this weakness to augment control of R. obtusifolius seedlings with combinations of Gastrophysa viridula (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and the rust fungus Uromyces rumicis. Rumex obtusifolius seedlings were grown in competition with L. perenne sown at different rates and times after R. obtusifolius: they competed successfully with L. perenne when sown 21 days before the grass. Sowing both species at the same time resulted in a dominant grass sward, with R. obtusifolius becoming dominant when sown 42 days prior to L. perenne. Grass sowing rate had no effect on R. obtusifolius growth or biomass. A second experiment investigated how competition from L. perenne sown 21 days after R. obtusifolius combined with damage from G. viridula and/or U. rumicis (applied at either the 3–4‐ or 10–13‐leaf stage, or at both stages) affected the growth and final biomass of R. obtusifolius. Beetle grazing at the latter leaf stage was the only treatment that reduced R. obtusifolius biomass, although rust infection at the earlier application led to an increase in shoot and root weight. The results are discussed in terms of the potential for use of these agents in the field.
Crop and density effects on weed beet growth and reproduction
Authors: Sester M , Delanoy M , Colbach N , Darmency H 
Published: December 2004

SummaryWeed beet populations growing in each crop of the arable rotation could be a relay for the gene flow from adjacent transgenic herbicide‐resistant sugarbeet. In this study, weed beet growth and reproduction were assessed under several conditions which could be found in the rotation: various weed beet densities (ranging from 1 to 120 plants m−2) and various crops (winter wheat, spring barley, spring pea, sugarbeet, maize, ryegrass). Measurements were carried out both on life‐cycle dynamics (bolting time, time to flowering onset, dynamics of flower opening) and on other quantitative data (survival rate, bolting rate and pollen, flower and seed production). Increasing weed beet density resulted in decreases in bolting rate and flower and seed production per plant. In cereals, weed beet establishment and reproduction were strongly reduced, compared with bare ground as a control situation. In pea, there was no effect on establishment, but the early harvest limited seed set. In the other crops, flower and seed production were reduced to a lesser extent. Parameters of the fitted equations on the bolting and flowering progress were modified by the weed beet density and by the crop. Our data may be used in a model predicting weed beet demographic evolution according to cropping system, and in assessing gene flow.
Germination ecology of seeds of the annual weeds Capsella bursa‐pastoris and Descurainia sophia originating from high northern latitudes
Authors: Baskin C C , Milberg P , Andersson L , Baskin J M 
Published: December 2004

SummaryLow temperatures may inhibit dormancy break in seeds of winter annuals, therefore it was hypothesized that seeds of Capsella bursa‐pastoris and Descurainia sophia that mature at high latitudes in late summer–early autumn would not germinate until they had been exposed to high summer temperatures. Consequently, germination would be delayed until the second autumn. Most freshly matured seeds of both species collected in August and September in southern Sweden were dormant. After 3 weeks of burial at simulated August (20/10°C) and September (15/6°C) temperatures, 28 and 27%, respectively, of the C. bursa‐pastoris and 56 and 59%, respectively, of the D. sophia seeds germinated in light at 15/6°C. In contrast, in germination phenology studies conducted in Sweden, only a few seeds of either species germinated during the first autumn following dispersal. However, there was a peak of germination of both species the following spring, demonstrating that dormancy was lost during exposure to the low habitat temperatures between late summer and early autumn and spring. Nearly 100% of the seeds of both species subjected to simulated annual seasonal temperature changes were viable after 30.5 months of burial. In the burial study, exhumed seeds of C. bursa‐pastoris were capable of germinating to 98–100% in light at the simulated spring–autumn temperature regime (15/6°C) in both spring and autumn, while those of D. sophia did so only in autumn. In early spring, however, seeds of D. sophia germinated to 17–50% at 15/6°C. Thus, most seeds of these two annual weeds that mature in late summer do not germinate in the first autumn, but they may do so the following spring or in some subsequent autumn or spring.
Computerized Delivery Control – A Useful and Safe Complement to the Type and Screen Compatibility Testing
Authors: Säfwenberg J. , Högman C. F. , Cassemar B. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract Objectives: Faster and less labor‐intensive crossmatching procedures are needed, but they must be as safe as the traditional antiglobulin method. We present twelve years' experience with a procedure involving antibody screening, blood group checks, and computerized delivery control (ABCD test). Methods: We use a computer for validation and printing documents and declaring compatibility between patient and blood component, based on screening results and earlier‐recorded data about the patient. Results: Of 257,400 units transfused during the period, 90% were declared compatible through the ABCD procedure, and 10% had to be crossmatched. We observed no hemolytic transfusion complications due to a failure of the procedure to detect red cell alloantibodies. Labor in the testing laboratory was reduced by 65% compared to a previous crossmatching period. Fewer blood units were returned unused. Conclusion: The procedure using a computerized system as a guard against human mistakes has been found to be safe and reliable and is now widely used in Sweden.