bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous Dilation Tracheotomy Versus Surgical Tracheotomy: Our Experience
Authors: Goldenberg David , Golz Avishay , Huri Antoinette , Netzer Aviram , Joachims Henry Zvi , Bar‐Lavie Yaron 
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUNDPercutaneous dilation tracheotomy (PDT) is becoming a popular alternative to surgical tracheotomy. In our department, we recently adopted the use of the PDT in intensive care unit patients. Here, we compare the results of the use of these 2 techniques on 150 patients, all performed by the same surgeon. We discuss the pros and cons of PDT and present our experience with the technique compared with surgical tracheotomy (ST).MATERIALS AND METHODSA prospective study of 75 PDTs and a retrospective study of 75 surgical tracheotomies (ST) were performed at the Department of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. Age, sex, duration of intubation before surgery, time interval between the decision to perform and the performance of tracheotomy, and cost were compared.RESULTSOne hundred fifty tracheotomies were reviewed. The indication for tracheotomy in both groups was prolonged mechanical ventilation. Seven patients were found unsuitable for PDT and underwent ST. Complications included 3 cases of mild postoperative hemorrhage in the ST group, and 1 case of subcutaneous emphysema, 1 case of stomal cellulitis and 2 cases of mild postoperative hemorrhage in the PDT group. The average waiting interval was between 2 to 5 days for ST and 1 to 24 hours for PDT. The intraoperative time for ST was 20 minutes; for PDT, 5 minutes. The cost was $565 for ST and $274 for PDT.CONCLUSIONSPTD provides an easy, less expensive, and convenient alternative to ST and should be added to the otolaryngologists' armamentarium of surgical airway procedures. The procedure is advantageous for the patient. Complication rates of both techniques are similar and low; however, PDT is a blind technique of obtaining a surgical airway and therefore holds more potential for serious complications. It is our conclusion that this technique is suitable for many, but not all, critical care patients and that the procedure should be performed only by surgeons who are capable of urgently obtaining a surgical airway or exploring the neck should the PDT fail.
An Evidence‐Based Review of the Treatment of Peritonsillar Abscess
Authors: Johnson Romaine F. , Stewart Michael G. , Wright Crystal C. 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVEPeritonsillar abscess (PTA) is commonly seen but still controversial. We performed an evidence‐based review to answer 3 questions: Are steroids beneficial? Which is the best technique for acute surgical management? When is tonsillectomy indicated?STUDY DESIGNWe performed a MEDLINE search of the published literature using appropriate search terms to identify pertinent articles, which were reviewed and graded according to the evidence quality.RESULTSForty‐two articles were analyzed. There are no published studies on steroids in PTA. There were 5 level I clinical studies on surgical technique, which indicated that needle aspiration, incision and drainage, and quinsy tonsillectomy are all effective for initial management. The overall PTA recurrence rate is 10% to 15%.CONCLUSIONSOverall, grade C evidence indicates that several methods of initial surgical drainage are equally effective, and the recurrence rate is low. The literature does not specifically address different treatments for children and adults.
Multiple Primary Tumors in Patients Diagnosed with Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Raghavan Ullas , Quraishi Shahed , Bradley Patrick James 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVEThere have been few series to report on the incidence of multiple primary tumors associated with hypopharyngeal cancer. A unique consecutive patient group in a closed community who were treated by a single surgeon was available. The incidence and effect of multiple primary tumors were unknown.STUDY DESIGNWe sought to assess (1) the incidence of multiple primary tumors among patients with hypopharyngeal cancer who were treated at a tertiary center, (2) the incidence of synchronous and metachronous tumors, and (3) the location of these multiple primary tumors and their effect on patient survival.METHODSWe conducted a retrospective study of case notes of 150 consecutive patients with hypopharyngeal malignancy treated by a single surgeon between 1983 and 1998. Information was compiled from the patients' medical records and death data from the Family Health Services Authority.RESULTSThirty‐four patients had multiple primary tumors (22.6%). There were 22 men and 12 women; piriform fossa tumor was seen in 21 men and 6 women, and postcricoid space tumor was seen in 6 women and 1 man. Second primary tumors were synchronous in 7 patients, subsequent to hypopharyngeal tumor in 5 patients, and antecedent to hypopharyngeal tumor in 14 patients. Eight patients had 2 primary tumors, of which 4 were synchronous, 4 were subsequent, and 8 were antecedent to hypopharyngeal malignancy. On the last review (2001), 3 patients were alive, and 31 had died: 17 had died from primary malignancy, 11 from another malignancy, and 3 from unrelated causes.CONCLUSIONThe presence of second primary tumors in hypopharyngeal cancer is higher than previously reported, and their presence had a significant effect on the patients' survival.
Gene Discovery Using a Human Vestibular Schwannoma cDNA Library Constructed from a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2)
Authors: Halum Stacey L. , Erbe Christy B. , Friedland David R. , Wackym Phillip A. 
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUNDDespite a strong association of schwannomin/merlin gene mutations with vestibular schwannoma formation, the regulatory mechanisms and biologic pathways involved are still largely unknown. The hypothesis of this study is that the genesis and growth characteristics of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)‐associated vestibular schwannomas are determined by genetic alterations that vary in gene transcript expression; this transcript expression includes oncogenic gene products that may be identified by construction and sequencing of a cDNA library from NF2‐associated vestibular schwannoma.METHODSApproximately 3 mL of fresh tumor was obtained during resection of a 4‐cm vestibular schwannoma from a patient with NF2. Poly(A)+ mRNA was isolated, synthesized into double‐stranded cDNA, and unidirectionally inserted into Uni‐Zap XR (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA) bacteriophage vectors. Bacteriophage vectors containing cDNA inserts were processed into phagemids according to Uni‐Zap XR protocol, and inserted vectors were sequenced and analyzed using BLAST software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) with GenBank, EMBL, DDBJ, and PBD databases.RESULTSThe cDNA library contained 2.4 million primary plaques. Inserts averaged 1.8 kilobases (kb) in length, with a range of 0.8 to 3.0 kb. BLAST multi‐database comparison of the sequence data obtained from 50 randomly selected clones yielded identification of 13 sequences representing known human genes and 17 sequences representing cloned sequences with unknown function. Three clones represented sequences not previously described in vestibular schwannomas but strongly implicated in oncogenesis within other tissues.CONCLUSIONSThese data have implications for understanding the molecular mechanisms of vestibular schwannoma tumor biology. Identified genes may provide future diagnostic/prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.
Ethics and Human Rights Issues Experienced by Psychiatric-Mental Health and Substance Abuse Registered Nurses
Authors: Grace Pamela J. , Fry Sara T. , Schultz Gary S. 
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND: The ethics and human rights issues experienced by psychiatric-mental health and substance-abuse registered nurses (P-MH and SA RNs) and how disturbed they are by the issues are not known. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency of ethics and human rights issues experienced by P-MH and SA RNs and how disturbing the issues are to them. STUDY DESIGN: Using Dillman’s (1978) Total Design Method, a survey of more than 8,000 RNs in six New England states was conducted. From the final sample size of 2,090 New England RN participants, responses from 162 participants who identified themselves as P-MH(n = 145) or SA (n = 17) RNs were further analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Protecting patients’ rights and human dignity and providing nursing care with possible health risks to the RN were identified as the most frequently experienced ethics and human rights issues. Staffing patterns that limit patient access to nursing care and implementing managed care policies that threaten the quality of patient care were identified as the most disturbing issues. Forty-one percent of the RNs reported experiencing ethics and human rights issues daily or one to four times per week in their clinical practices. CONCLUSIONS: P-MH and SA RNs in New England encounter ethics and human rights issues in practice more frequently than all other RNs practicing in New England.
Early prognostic factors for duration on temporary total benefits in the first year among workers with compensated occupational soft tissue injuries
Authors: Hogg-Johnson S , Cole D C 
Published: March 2003

Aims:To develop a model of prognosis for time receiving workers’ compensation wage replacement benefits in the first year.Methods:A prospective cohort of 907 injured workers off work because of soft tissue injuries was followed for one year through structured telephone interviews and administrative data sources. Workers were recruited at workers’ compensation claim registration. Only those still off work at four weeks post-registration were included in the analysis. Data from several domains (demographics, clinical factors, workplace factors, recovery expectations) were collected at approximately two weeks and a subset again at four weeks. Outcome was duration on total temporary wage replacement benefits. Variable selection was carried out in two steps using content experts and backward elimination with the Cox model.Results:Body region specific functional status, change in pain, workplace offers of arrangements for return to work, and recovery expectations were independently predictive of time on benefits. Change in pain and workplace offers interacted, so the largest mutual association occurred for those whose pain was getting worse—that is, reduction in median duration from 112.5 to 32.5 days. Across observed values, widely different recovery profiles of groups of workers resulted; for example, at four months, only one third of the highest risk group had gone off benefits while over 95% of the lowest risk group had done so.Conclusions:Focus on a relatively small set of prognostic factors should enable occupational health practitioners to triage injured workers within the first month and concentrate on those requiring additional assistance to return to work.
Relation between sick leave and selected exposure variables among women semiconductor workers in Malaysia
Authors: Chee H L , Rampal K G 
Published: March 2003

Aims:To determine the relation between sick leave and selected exposure variables among women semiconductor workers.Methods:This was a cross sectional survey of production workers from 18 semiconductor factories. Those selected had to be women, direct production operators up to the level of line leader, and Malaysian citizens. Sick leave and exposure to physical and chemical hazards were determined by self reporting. Three sick leave variables were used; number of sick leave days taken in the past year was the variable of interest in logistic regression models where the effects of age, marital status, work task, work schedule, work section, and duration of work in factory and work section were also explored.Results:Marital status was strongly linked to the taking of sick leave. Age, work schedule, and duration of work in the factory were significant confounders only in certain cases. After adjusting for these confounders, chemical and physical exposures, with the exception of poor ventilation and smelling chemicals, showed no significant relation to the taking of sick leave within the past year. Work section was a good predictor for taking sick leave, as wafer polishing workers faced higher odds of taking sick leave for each of the three cut off points of seven days, three days, and not at all, while parts assembly workers also faced significantly higher odds of taking sick leave.Conclusion:In Malaysia, the wafer fabrication factories only carry out a limited portion of the work processes, in particular, wafer polishing and the processes immediately prior to and following it. This study, in showing higher illness rates for workers in wafer polishing compared to semiconductor assembly, has implications for the governmental policy of encouraging the setting up of wafer fabrication plants with the full range of work processes.
Work factors as predictors of sickness absence: a three month prospective study of nurses’ aides
Authors: Eriksen W , Bruusgaard D , Knardahl S 
Published: March 2003

Aims:To identify the work factors that predict sickness absence in nurses’ aides.Methods:The sample comprised 5563 Norwegian nurses’ aides, not on leave because of illness or pregnancy when they completed a mailed questionnaire in 1999. Of these, 4931 (88.6%) completed a second questionnaire three months later. The outcome measure was the three month incidence proportion of certified sickness absence (>3 days), as assessed by self reports at follow up.Results:Perceived lack of encouraging and supportive culture in the work unit (odds ratio (OR) 1.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28 to 2.34), working in psychiatric and paediatric wards, having injured the neck in an accident, and health complaints were associated with higher risk of sickness absence, after adjustments for a series of physical, psychological, and organisational work factors, personal engagement in the work unit, demographic characteristics, and daily consumption of cigarettes. Having untraditional jobs (for nurses’ aides) (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.36 to 0.77), and engaging in aerobics or gym were associated with a lower risk of sickness absence.Conclusions:The study suggests that the three month effects of work factors on rates of certified sickness absence are modest in nurses’ aides. The most important work factor, in terms of predicting sickness absence, seems to be perceived lack of encouraging and supportive culture in the work unit.
Neurobehavioural effects among workers occupationally exposed to organophosphorous pesticides
Authors: Farahat T M , Abdelrasoul G M , Amr M M , Shebl M M , Farahat F M , Anger W K 
Published: March 2003

Aims:To identify neurobehavioural deficits among workers exposed to organophosphorous (OP) pesticides in their occupation.Methods:This study was conducted during the period when pesticides were applied to cotton crops in the fields in Menoufiya Governorate, Egypt. Fifty two occupationally exposed male workers were compared to 50 unexposed male controls who were similar in age, socioeconomic class, and years of education (⩾12 years). All participants completed a questionnaire (assessing personal, occupational, and medical histories), general and neurological clinical examination, neurobehavioural test battery (including tests for verbal abstraction, problem solving, attention, memory, and visuomotor speed), personality assessment, and serological analysis for serum acetylcholinesterase.Results:After correcting for confounders of age and education, the exposed participants exhibited significantly lower performance than controls on six neurobehavioural tests (Similarities, Digit Symbol, Trailmaking part A and B, Letter Cancellation, Digit Span, and Benton Visual Retention). A longer duration of work with pesticides was associated with lower performance on most neurobehavioural tests after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Although serum acetylcholinesterase was significantly lower in the exposed than the control participants, it was not significantly correlated with either neurobehavioural performance or neurological abnormalities.Conclusions:Occupational exposure to OP pesticides was associated with deficits in a wider array of neurobehavioural functions than previously reported, perhaps because of higher exposure in this population. Moderate chronic OP exposure may not only affect visuomotor speed as reported previously, but also verbal abstraction, attention, and memory.
Health problems and psychosocial work environment as predictors of long term sickness absence in employees who visited the occupational physician and/or general practitioner in relation to work: a prospective study
Authors: Andrea H , Beurskens A J H M , Metsemakers J F M , van Amelsvoort L G P M , van den Brandt P A , van Schayck C P 
Published: March 2003

Aims:To determine whether psychosocial work environment and indicators of health problems are prospectively related to incident long term sickness absence in employees who visited the occupational physician (OP) and/or general practitioner (GP) in relation to work.Methods:The baseline measurement (May 1998) of the Maastricht Cohort Study, a prospective cohort study among 45 companies and organisations, was used to select employees at work who indicated having visited the OP and/or GP in relation to work. Self report questionnaires were used to measure indicators of health problems (presence of at least one long term disease, likeliness of having a mental illness, fatigue) and psychosocial work environment (job demands, decision latitude, social support, job satisfaction) as predictors of subsequent sickness absence. Sickness absence data regarding total numbers of sickness absence days were obtained from the companies and occupational health services during an 18 month period (between 1 July 1998 and 31 December 1999). Complete data were available from 1271 employees.Results:After adjustment for demographics and the other predictors, presence of at least one long term disease (OR 2.36; 95% CI 1.29 to 4.29) and lower level of decision latitude (OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.22 to 2.38) were the strongest predictors for sickness absence of at least one month. A higher likelihood of having a mental illness, a higher level of fatigue, a lower level of social support at work, and low job satisfaction were also significant predictors for long term sickness absence, but their effect was less strong.Conclusion:In detecting employees at work but at risk for long term sickness absence, OPs and GPs should take into account not only influence of the psychosocial work environment in general and level of decision latitude in particular, but also influence of indicators of health problems, especially in the form of long term diseases.
Reproductive cycle of the golden-striped salamander Chioglossa lusitanica (Caudata, Salamandridae) in NW Portugal
Authors: Sequeira  , Ferrand  , Crespo  
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe reproductive cycle of the golden-striped salamander, Chioglossa lusitanica, was studied in the vicinity of Porto (northwestern Portugal), in a population that breeds in a mine gallery. Salamanders (67 females and 64 males) were collected between January and November of 1998. Both sexes showed a seasonal reproductive cycle. Spermatogenesis and oogenesis took place between winter and late spring and the presence of spermatozoa and mature oocytes were observed mainly between early summer and late autumn. Gonad, liver and tail weights varied seasonally in both sexes and appear related to different phases of the sexual cycle. Average potential clutch size was 17.8 (sx = 0.8; range = 9-34). Clutch size was correlated with snout-vent length and apparently not influenced by tail-length or age.
Hatching success in salamanders and chorus frogs at two sites in Colorado, USA: effects of acidic deposition and climate
Authors: Corn Paul Stephen , Campbell Donald , Muths Erin 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe snowpack in the vicinity of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area is among the most acidic in the western United States. We analyzed water chemistry and examined hatching success in tiger salamanders and chorus frogs at ponds there and at nearby Rabbit Ears Pass (Dumont) to determine whether acid deposition affects amphibians or their breeding habitats at these potentially sensitive locations. We found a wide range of acid neutralizing capacity among ponds within sites; the minimum pH recorded during the experiment was 5.4 at one of 12 ponds with all others at pH ≥ 5.7. At Dumont, hatching success for chorus frogs was greater in ponds with low acid neutralizing capacity; however, lowest pHs were > 5.8. At current levels of acid deposition, weather and pond characteristics are likely more important than acidity in influencing hatching success in amphibian larvae at these sites.
Space use, cave choice, and spatial learning in the dendrobatid frog Colostethus palmatus
Authors: Lüddecke Horst 
Published: March 2003

AbstractMoving in and out of small cavelike structures is a common daily activity of Colostethus palmatus. Such sites are used for shelter and spawning. Therefore, cave quality is important to survival and reproductive success. The frogs' association with caves was studied in a 24-cave communal paludarium. Adult frogs recognised cave quality, and chose large damp caves for spawning, but large, wet and dark caves were preferred for shelter, while small ones were used less or ignored. The search time needed to find an available cave gradually shortened over trials, reaching a minimum in about eight days, indicating that frogs learned cave position. Males and females had similar search times. Frogs less familiar with the test area had longer initial search times than frogs with more experience, but achieved equally short search times after about eight days. In conjunction with previous findings the results suggest that visual cues are important in habitat choice and spatial learning, and that territorial and reproductive behaviour are intimately associated with learning performance.
Cytogenetics of a new species of Paratelmatobius cardosoi group (Anura: Leptodactylidae), with the description of an apparent case of pericentric inversion
Authors: Lourenço Luciana , Recco-Pimentel Shirlei , Garcia Paulo 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe karyotype of a new species of Paratelmatobius from the P. cardosoi group is described. As with other Paratelmatobius and Scythrophrys karyotypes, Paratelmatobius sp. (aff. cardosoi) shows a diploid number of 24 chromosomes, in addition to other similarities with the former karyotypes. The Paratelmatobius sp. (aff. cardosoi) karyotype differs from that of P. cardosoi in the morphology of pair 4, the NOR location and the C-bands in pairs 3 and 8 (exclusive to Paratelmatobius sp.) and those of pairs 7 and 9 (exclusive to P. cardosoi). Both karyotypes also differ in the amount of heterochromatin in pair 1. The presence of interstitial heterochromatin in the long arm of pair 1 and the interstitial C-bands in both arms of chromosome 5 are apparently synapomorphic characters of P. cardosoi and Paratelmatobius sp. (aff. cardosoi), since they are absent in the other Paratelmatobius and Scythrophrys karyotypes. In Paratelmatobius sp. (aff. cardosoi), the nucleolus organizer region is on the short arm of a small metacentric chromosome (pair 9), an arrangement similar to the NOR-bearing chromosome pair in the karyotype of P. poecilogaster and in karyotype II of Scythrophrys. A conspicuous heteromorphism unrelated to the sex determining mechanism was also observed and probably arose from a pericentric inversion.
A new fossorial scincine lizard of the genus Pseudoacontias (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) from Nosy Be, Madagascar
Authors: Sakata Shuichi , Hikida Tsutomu 
Published: March 2003

AbstractA new species of fossorial skink, the third member of the genus Pseudoacontias, is described from Nosy Be, an island off the northwest coast of Madagascar. This species most resembles P. madagascariensis in limbless body, but differs in color pattern, number of supralabials and infralabials, height of subocular, and overlap relation of primary temporal and supralabials.