Search

Copyright of Journal of Nursing & Health is the property of Journal of Nursing & Health (JONAH) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Donald A.B. Lindberg M.D. arrived as Director, U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) in late 1984 with the intention of implementing a physician-friendly interface to MEDLINE, a prime example of his interest in making NLM information services more directly useful in medical care. By early 1986, NLM's Grateful Med, an inexpensive PC search interface to MEDLINE useful for health professionals, had joined the group of end-user systems for searching MEDLINE that emerged in the 1980s. This chapter recounts Grateful Med's rapid iterative development and the subsequent campaign to bring it to attention of health professionals. It emphasizes Lindberg's role, the challenges faced by those introducing and using the interface in a pre-Internet world, and some longer-term effects of the effort to expand health professionals' use of MEDLINE during the decade from 1986 to 1996. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to critically review the literature on the consequences of obesity among older adults and its association with health, well-being, and social care need. A search was conducted using, primarily, three databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Complete, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, or MEDLARS Online (MEDLINE) and Academic Search Elite with the help of Boolean operators. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were set to avoid bias in the selection of articles. Publications were reviewed to identify the impact of obesity among older people in terms of health and social care needs and to establish a relation between them. Gaps in the literature have been identified concerning obesity in the older adults, their health status, well-being, and social care need. The research questions were formulated to satisfy these gaps. A conceptual model was developed to map out the theoretical threads to form a diagrammatic representation to satisfy the research questions based on existing literature.The literature review established that the degree of disabilities and comorbidities related to obesity are directly proportionate and identified the gaps in the literature, where further research work is needed. The research objectives were built according to the identified gaps, the research questions were formulated to satisfy the research objectives, and a conceptual framework was also drawn to establish the links between the research questions. This review will guide a way forward to explore the unmet care needs of the aging society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Practical Pharmacy & Clinical Remedies is the property of Editorial Department of Practical Pharmacy & Clinical Remedies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective To investigate the clinical features of patients with drug - induced liver injury ( DILI) in China in the last five years. Methods Related databases were searched for original case reports on DILI in China published from January' 2012 to December 2017 , and a total of 202 articles with 26 015 DILI patients were included in this analysis. Sex, age, geographical distribution , causative drugs, clinical features, and prognosis were summarized and analyzed. Categorical data were expressed as rate (% ) or constituent ratio. Results Of all 26 015 patients, 12 885 (49.53%) were male and 13 130 (50.47%) were female, with a mean age of 46. 86 years. The five most common causative drugs were traditional Chinese medicine (TCM ) ( 34. 68% ) , anti - tubercular agents (15. 81% ) , anti - microbial drugs (12.04%), antitumor drugs (9. 09%), and analgesic - antipyretic drugs (6. 17% ). Major clinical manifestations included fatigue (50. 37% ) , jaundice (52.68% ) , and poor appetite (43. 59% ). A total of 158 articles recorded the typing of 19994 DILI patients, among whom 58. 84% had the hepatocellular type, 21.79% had the cholestasis type, and 19. 37% had the mixed type. Liver biopsy had a certain value in the diagnosis of DILL Major therapies for DILI included withdrawal of suspected drugs, anti — inflammatory treatment, and liver protection. A total of 179 articles reported the prognosis of 22 030 patients, among whom 11 159 (50. 65% ) were cured, 8742 (39.68% ) were improved, 1176 (5.34% ) had no response, and 353 patients (1.60% ) died. Conclusion There is a similar incidence rate of DILI between male and female populations. TCM is the most common causative drugs for DILL The hepatocellular type is the most common clinical type. The cured and improved rate is as high as 90. 34% , and most patients have good prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To characterize the risk factors associated with overdose or serious opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) among medical users of prescription opioids in a commercially insured population (CIP) and to compare risk factor profiles between the CIP and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) population. Subjects and Methods. Analysis of data from 18,365,497 patients in the IMS PharMetrics Plus health plan claims database (CIP) who were dispensed a prescription opioid in 2009 to 2013. Baseline factors associated with an event of serious OIRD among 7,234 cases and 28,932 controls were identified using multivariable logistic regression. The CIP risk factor profile was compared with that from a corresponding logistic regression among 817 VHA cases and 8,170 controls in 2010 to 2012. Results. The strongest associations with serious OIRD in CIP were diagnosed substance use disorder (odds ratio [OR] 5 10.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5 9.06-11.40) and depression (OR5 3.12, 95% CI52.84-3.42). Other strongly associated factors included other mental health disorders; impaired liver, renal, vascular, and pulmonary function; prescribed fentanyl, methadone, and morphine; higher daily opioid doses; and concurrent psychoactive medications. These risk factors, except depression, vascular disease, and specific opioids, largely aligned with VHA despite CIP being substantially younger, including more females and less chronic disease, and having greater prescribing prevalence of higher daily opioid doses, specific opioids, and most selected nonopioids. Conclusions. Risk factor profiles for serious OIRD among US medical users of prescription opioids with private or public health insurance were largely concordant despite substantial differences between the populations in demographics, clinical conditions, health care delivery systems, and clinical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context:Health screening of refugees after settlement in a recipient country is an important tool to find and treat diseases. Currently, there are no available reviews on refugee health screening after resettlement. Methods:A systematic literature search was conducted using the online Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (‘MEDLINE’) database. Data extraction and synthesis were performed according to the PRISMA statement. Results:The search retrieved 342 articles. Relevance screening was conducted on all abstracts/titles. The final 53 studies included only original scientific articles on health screening of refugees conducted after settlement in another country. The 53 studies were all from North America, Australia/New Zealand and Europe. Because of differences in country policies, the screenings were conducted differently in the various locations. The studies demonstrated great variation in who was targeted for screening and how screening was conducted. The disease most frequently screened for was tuberculosis; this was done in approximately half of the studies. Few studies included screening for mental health and non-infectious diseases like diabetes and hypertension. Conclusion:Health screening of refugees after resettlement is conducted according to varying local policies and there are vast differences in which health conditions are covered in the screening and whom the screening is available to. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Affordable Care Act mandates that public health data be made available for community agency use. Having access to such data allows community agencies to tailor interventions, evaluations, and funding requests more effectively. This study, jointly undertaken by Syracuse University faculty and students with the New York State Perinatal Association, sought to understand community agencies’ access to requests for governmental data, as well as to identify areas for improving data access. Results from this survey of administrators from 43 agencies in New York State found that only one-half of their requests for data were successful. Difficulties in obtaining access to needed data included fiscal and staffing constraints of the state-level agencies that house the data, as well as possible overinterpretation of confidentiality policies. In addition, some of community agency respondents reported that their staff lacked skills in data analysis and would benefit from training in epidemiology and quantitative evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim The objective of this systematic review was to identify primary health-care or aged-care strategies that have or could support the well-being of older Indigenous peoples. Methods A search was undertaken of primary databases including Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. Papers which reported on the perspectives of older Indigenous peoples, community members and provider participants were included. Findings were pooled using a meta-aggregative approach. Results Three high-level synthesised findings - maintaining Indigenous identity, promoting independence and delivering culturally safe care - were believed to be important for supporting the well-being of older Indigenous peoples. Conclusions As physical independence often diminishes with age, having the support of culturally safe primary health-care and aged-care services that understand the importance of maintaining an Indigenous identity and promoting independence will be crucial for the well-being of older Indigenous peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents a study on the effectiveness of quality improvement (QI) strategies for diabetes management. The analysis is done through a bibliographic database, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System and references of clinical randomized trials. The method includes trials of 11 predefined QI strategies for targeting health systems and patients to improve diabetic management. According to the research, QI strategies showed improvement in diabetes care. INSET: Panel: Taxonomy of quality improvement strategies.

The article provides information on a study which systematically assessed the precision and accuracy of symptoms, signs, laboratory tests and bedside imaging studies to identify intra-abdominal injuries in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. The study identified English-language studies examining the identification of intra-abdominal injuries through conducting a structured search of Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and EMBASE. The study also examined studies evaluating bedside ultrasonography through a separate, structure search.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the kidney is a rare and highly malignant neoplasm. The median age for renal PNET is 27 years but it can be seen also in a wide age range between 3 and 78 years. We performed a Medline search for the term renal PNET and identified 79 cases up till December of 2010. We report here a new case of renal PNET and a literature review for published data for evaluation of clinicopathological prognostic factors, with an emphasis on prognosis in two groups of adults and children-adolescents: 18 years of age or under and over 18 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tools to enhance physician searches of Medline and other bibliographic databases have potential to improve the application of new knowledge in patient care. This is particularly true for articles about glomerular disease, which are published across multiple disciplines and are often difficult to track down. Our objective was to develop and test search filters for PubMed, Ovid Medline, and Embase that allow physicians to search within a subset of the database to retrieve articles relevant to glomerular disease.Methods: We used a diagnostic test assessment framework with development and validation phases. We read a total of 22,992 full text articles for relevance and assigned them to the development or validation set to define the reference standard. We then used combinations of search terms to develop 997,298 unique glomerular disease filters. Outcome measures for each filter included sensitivity, specificity, precision, and accuracy. We selected optimal sensitive and specific search filters for each database and applied them to the validation set to test performance.Results: High performance filters achieved at least 93.8% sensitivity and specificity in the development set. Filters optimized for sensitivity reached at least 96.7% sensitivity and filters optimized for specificity reached at least 98.4%specificity. Performance of these filters was consistent in the validation set and similar among all three databases.Conclusions: PubMed, Ovid Medline, and Embase can be filtered for articles relevant to glomerular disease in a reliable manner. These filters can now be used to facilitate physician searching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Dermoscopy is a safe, easy-to-repeat diagnostic method used especially in the diagnosis of melanocytic lesions and others. Performing dermoscopy for skin lesions on the whole body takes only one minute more than standard clinical examination. Therefore the knowledge of basic dermoscopy among multi-specialization doctors - from general practitioners, surgeons, oncologists to dermatologists - increases the possibility of detection of potential melanoma. Aim. To describe the basic aspects of dermoscopy of melanocytic lesions. Methods. Review of medical databases PubMed and Medline from the last 8 years and a retrospective analysis of own experience. Results. We report the fundamental principles of performing dermoscopy, basic dermoscopic features and diagnostic algorithms of selected melanocytic lesions. Conclusions. The knowledge base of dermoscopy is very important among doctors of many specializations. It increases melanoma detection in very early stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We investigate the accuracy of different similarity approaches for clustering over two million biomedical documents. Clustering large sets of text documents is important for a variety of information needs and applications such as collection management and navigation, summary and analysis. The few comparisons of clustering results from different similarity approaches have focused on small literature sets and have given conflicting results. Our study was designed to seek a robust answer to the question of which similarity approach would generate the most coherent clusters of a biomedical literature set of over two million documents. Methodology: We used a corpus of 2.15 million recent (2004-2008) records from MEDLINE, and generated nine different document-document similarity matrices from information extracted from their bibliographic records, including titles, abstracts and subject headings. The nine approaches were comprised of five different analytical techniques with two data sources. The five analytical techniques are cosine similarity using term frequency-inverse document frequency vectors (tf-idf cosine), latent semantic analysis (LSA), topic modeling, and two Poisson-based language models - BM25 and PMRA (PubMed Related Articles). The two data sources were a) MeSH subject headings, and b) words from titles and abstracts. Each similarity matrix was filtered to keep the top-n highest similarities per document and then clustered using a combination of graph layout and average-link clustering. Cluster results from the nine similarity approaches were compared using (1) within-cluster textual coherence based on the Jensen-Shannon divergence, and (2) two concentration measures based on grant-to-article linkages indexed in MEDLINE. Conclusions: PubMed's own related article approach (PMRA) generated the most coherent and most concentrated cluster solution of the nine text-based similarity approaches tested, followed closely by the BM25 approach using titles and abstracts. Approaches using only MeSH subject headings were not competitive with those based on titles and abstracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Information extraction is a complex task which is necessary to develop high-precision information retrieval tools. In this paper, we present the platform MeTAE (Medical Texts Annotation and Exploration). MeTAE allows (i) to extract and annotate medical entities and relationships from medical texts and (ii) to explore semantically the produced RDF annotations. Results: Our annotation approach relies on linguistic patterns and domain knowledge and consists in two steps: (i) recognition of medical entities and (ii) identification of the correct semantic relation between each pair of entities. The first step is achieved by an enhanced use of MetaMap which improves the precision obtained by MetaMap by 19.59% in our evaluation. The second step relies on linguistic patterns which are built semi-automatically from a corpus selected according to semantic criteria. We evaluate our system’s ability to identify medical entities of 16 types. We also evaluate the extraction of treatment relations between a treatment (e.g. medication) and a problem (e.g. disease): we obtain 75.72% precision and 60.46% recall. Conclusions: According to our experiments, using an external sentence segmenter and noun phrase chunker may improve the precision of MetaMap-based medical entity recognition. Our pattern-based relation extraction method obtains good precision and recall w.r.t related works. A more precise comparison with related approaches remains difficult however given the differences in corpora and in the exact nature of the extracted relations. The selection of MEDLINE articles through queries related to known drug-disease pairs enabled us to obtain a more focused corpus of relevant examples of treatment relations than a more general MEDLINE query. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: The MEDLINE database, consisting of over 19 million publication records, is the primary source of information for biomedicine and health questions. Although the database itself has been growing rapidly, the search paradigm of MEDLINE has remained largely unchanged. Results: Here, we propose a new system for exploring the entire MEDLINE collection, represented by two unique features: (i) interactive: providing instant feedback to users' query letter by letter, and (ii) fuzzy: allowing approximate search. We develop novel index structures and search algorithms to make such a search model possible. We also develop incremental-update techniques to keep the data up to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive amount of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) gathered over recent years has triggered great interest in efficient applications for genomic research. In particular, EST functional relationships can be used to determine a possible gene network for biological processes of interest. In recent years, many researchers have tried to determine EST functional relationships by analyzing the biological literature. However, it has been challenging to find efficient prediction methods. Moreover, an annotated EST is usually associated with many functions, so successful methods must be able to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant functions based on user specifications. This paper proposes a method to discover functional relationships between ESTs of interest by analyzing literature from the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, with user-specified parameters for selecting keywords. This method performs better than the multiple kernel documents method in setting up a specific threshold for gathering materials. The method is also able to uncover known functional relationships, as shown by a comparison with the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database. The reliable EST relationships predicted by the proposed method can help to construct gene networks for specific biological functions of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an analysis regarding the studies evaluating the association between the level of physical activity and the occurrence of accidental falls in the elderly. A systemic review of the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online databases was initiated. It concludes that it was not possible to determine whether a level of physical activity is able to decrease the incidence of falls in the elderly.

With the increasing medical literature, staying current with medical information is becoming a major challenge for clinicians. To ensure best practice and treatment for patients, clinicians must access medical information, acquire new knowledge, and achieve information mastery in their field. Without a systematic approach to identify and critically appraise clinical research, they might become dependent on inappropriate or outdated information. In this review, we present a brief synopsis of the multitude of resources available to clinicians for knowledge management, our best-practice suggestions for selecting an evidence-based medicine resource, and a convenient overview and easily adaptable strategy to successfully identify relevant medical literature and evaluate its validity. For rapid retrieval, review, and synthesis of the medical literature, we recommend the systematic approach of retrieve, review, reject, and read. This strategy allows clinicians to more efficiently stay abreast of the medical literature and more effectively translate the best evidence from peer-reviewed publication to patient. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

F. Wilfrid Lancaster has earned a reputation for greatness in the evaluation of information storage and retrieval systems. Many of his extensive contributions stem from his early experience with the National Library of Medicine (NLM) MEDLARS system. His evaluation of the MEDLARS Demand Search Service in 1966 and 1967 was an important landmark as one of the earliest evaluations of a computer-based retrieval system and as the first application of recall and precision measures in a large, operational database setting. In 1971, his evaluation of the MEDLARS AIM-TWX system was an important study of early online systems and their direct use by end users. This paper summarizes Lancaster's two major evaluations of the MEDLARS system, including the information environment at the time and their impact in the field of information science. Examples of Lancaster's other evaluation work with information retrieval systems are provided, followed by discussion of the textbooks that grew out of his evaluation experience and expertise. The article closes with comments from current and former NLM staff regarding Lancaster's time at NLM or his influence on their own career. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In-utero drug exposure is associated with increased risks of perinatal morbidity and mortality, however longer term neurodevelopmental outcome of survivors is poorly described. Aims: : The aims of this paper are: (1) to review the published literature which examines neurodevelopmental outcome in infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and (2) to report developmental follow-up data from a case-control study of babies exposed to opiate in-utero. Methods: : This study was conducted at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, NSW, through the multidisciplinary NAS service. Literature was reviewed after searching MEDLINE for relevant studies. Our own case-control study was conducted to examine neurodevelopmental outcome. A number of standardized neuropsychological tools were employed to assess these infants. Results: : Results from previously published studies on outcome of infants with NAS were not reassuring as to reported ‘normal development’. In our own case-control study, opiate-exposed infants were significantly more likely to have neurodevelopmental impairment compared to healthy control infants, when assessed at 18 months and 3 years of age. Conclusions: : Infants exposed to opiates in-utero are at increased risk of neurodevelopmental problems throughout early childhood. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objectives: To review the available literature investigating the effects of peroxide-based products and solutions on enamel and dentine properties. Sources: All original scientific full papers listed in ISI Web of Science and Medline were included in this review using the search terms peroxide AND (enamel OR dentin*) up to the end of 2006. Conclusions: The majority of studies indicate that peroxide containing products and solutions have no significant deleterious effects on enamel and dentine surface morphology and chemistry, surface microhardness, subsurface enamel and dentine microhardness or ultrastructure. In addition, in vitro studies indicate that they have no significant clinically relevant effects on subsequent enamel and dentine loss caused by acidic erosive challenges, toothpaste abrasion or caries lesion formation. The contrasting studies that do show an effect on some of the above properties, in general, have some limitations in the in vitro methods used which do not accurately reflect the in vivo situation or use products/solutions that have a particularly low pH where acidic erosive processes are likely to dominate and explain the observed changes in enamel and dentine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: The research provides a chronology of the US National Library of Medicine's (NLM'S) contribution to access to the world's biomedical literature through its computerization of biomedical indexes, particularly the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLARS). Method: Using material gathered from NLM's archives and from personal interviews with people associated with developing MEDLARS and its associated systems, the author discusses key events in the history of MEDLARS. Discussion: From the development of the early mechanized bibliographic retrieval systems of the 1940s and to the beginnings of online, interactive computerized bibliographic search systems of the early 1970s chronicled here, NLM'S contributions to automation and bibliographic retrieval have been extensive. Conclusion: As NLM'S technological experience and expertise grew, innovative bibliographic storage and retrieval systems emerged. NLM's accomplishments regarding MEDLARS were cutting edge, placing the library at the forefront of incorporating mechanization and technologies into medical information systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The research developed and pilot-tested MedlinePlus exercises in a diet-related chronic disease prevention (DCDP) middle school lesson unit called "Live." Methods: MedlinePlus exercises were jointly developed by two middle school family and consumer sciences (FCS) teachers and integrated into the "Live" DCDP lesson unit. FCS classes (n 4) who had participated in a prior "Live" study were chosen to pilot-test the MedlinePlus-supplemented exercises. Evaluation measures included student satisfaction (assessed using an 8-item pre- and posttest questionnaire), knowledge gained, and attitudinal changes (assessed with an abridged version of a previously developed "Live" questionnaire). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. Results: Of 62 total study participants, 56 (92.3%) said that they were either "somewhat" or "clearly": (a) more likely to use MedlinePlus as a future source for answering questions about their personal health and (b) more knowledgeable about how eating habits can help prevent disease. Selected parameters were improved for nutrition knowledge (P < 0.01) and attitudes (P < 0.01) related to healthy eating. Conclusions: MedlinePlus has good potential for efficiently communicating trustworthy diet-related disease-prevention behaviors to adolescents in an existing classroom curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method used by the working group was an iterative process based upon a structured review of the relevant literature by a group of rapporteurs. The literature was searched using common databanks (e.g., Medline, Pubmed, Cochrane Library etc.), and also by performing manual searches in the non-indexed literature. The review papers were circulated to the members of the group before and during a conference that served as the basis for subsequent discussions. Each paper was subject to detailed collective analysis and subsequently modified on the basis of panel's discussion and referred to additional relevant literature where appropriate. The consensus statements were prepared after a detailed consideration of the papers submitted to the workshop by the working group. The papers were scrutinized, amended and approved by the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Although the Delphi technique has been commonly used as a data source in medical and health services research, its application in economic evaluation of medicines has been more limited. The aim of this study was to describe the methodology of the Delphi technique, to present a case for using the technique in economic evaluation, and to provide recommendations to improve such use. Methods: The literature was accessed through MEDLINE focusing on studies discussing the methodology of the Delphi technique and economic evaluations of medicines using the Delphi technique. Results and discussion: The Delphi technique can be used to provide estimates of health care resources required and to modify such estimates when making inter-country comparisons. The Delphi technique can also contribute to mapping the treatment process under investigation, to identifying the appropriate comparator to be used, and to ensuring that the economic evaluation estimates cost-effectiveness rather than cost-efficacy. Conclusion: Ideally, economic evaluations of medicines should be based on real-patient data. In the absence of such data, evaluations need to incorporate the best evidence available by employing approaches such as the Delphi technique. Evaluations based on this approach should state the limitations, and explore the impact of the associated uncertainty in the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic review on the retention of resin-based sealants (RBSs) according to the material used and the clinical procedure. An electronic search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library and SCOPUS was completed by a hand search in conference proceedings. One hundred and twenty-four studies were identified, 31 of which were included. The retention rate of auto-polymerized and light-cured RBSs did not differ significantly. Light-cured RBSs had a significantly higher retention rate than fluoride-containing light-cured RBSs at 48 months (RR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.72–0.89) and more. Concerning the clinical procedure, the scarcity of well-conducted studies made judgement difficult, except for the isolation stage. If using a rubber dam did not affect retention of auto-polymerized RBSs, it did for fluoride-containing light-cured RBSs (RR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.51–2.73). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess the performance, in terms of sensitivity and precision, of different approaches to searchingmedline andembase to identify studies of adverse effects. Methods: Five approaches to searching for adverse effects evidence were identified: approach 1, using specified adverse effects; approach 2, using subheadings/qualifiers; approach 3, using text words; approach 4, using indexing terms; approach 5, searching for specific study designs. The sensitivity and precision of these five approaches, and combinations of these approaches, were compared in a case study using a systematic review of the adverse effects of seven anti-epileptic drugs. Results: The most sensitive search strategy inmedline (97.0%) required a combination of terms for specified adverse effects, floating subheadings, and text words for ‘adverse effects’. Inembase, a combination of terms for specified adverse effects and text words for ‘adverse effects’ provided the most sensitive search strategy (98.6%). Both these search strategies yielded low precision (2.8%). Conclusions: A highly sensitive search in either database requires a combination of approaches, and has low precision. This suggests that better reporting and indexing of adverse effects is required and that an effective generic search filter may not yet be feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, researchers present a model for estimating the probability that a pair of author names appearing on two different articles refer to the same individual. Bio-informatics research databases have dramatically accelerated the pace of discovery in the biomedical sciences. Among these, Medline is the oldest and the best curated, and arguably it contains the most scientific information insofar as it summarizes knowledge that has been published across all biomedical fields. Medline and the most popular search interface, PubMed, have devoted a great deal of attention to the comprehensive retrieval of papers according to their subject content. Thus, each paper in Medline is indexed by hierarchical controlled-vocabulary medical subject headings, and this information is used automatically in query processing by PubMed. The model uses a simple yet powerful similarity profile between a pair of articles, based on title, journal name, coauthor names, medical subject headings, language, affiliation, and name attributes. The similarity profile distribution is computed from reference sets consisting of pairs of articles containing almost exclusively author matches versus non-matches, generated in an unbiased manner. Although the match set is generated automatically and might contain a small proportion of non-matches, the model is quite robust against contamination with non-matches.

Abstract: Objective:: Overactive bladder is an highly prevalent syndrome involving up to 17% of the population in both western Europe and US and is often associated with detrusor overactivity. Significant improvement in the management of this condition has recently occurred cause the availability of new drugs. Methods:: The Medline database has been extensively searched. Research has also involved industrial and private databases available online and specialised in the development of new drugs. Results:: Antimuscarinics remain the gold standard in the management of detrusor overactivity although the condition mostly goes undiagnosed in non neurogenic patients suffering from overactive bladder syndrome. A number of receptors other than muscarinics have been investigated as possible new targets although no novel effective drugs have been yet developed. Conclusion:: Antimuscarinic drugs dominate medical treatment of symptoms and signs associated with detrusor overactivity although new drugs will hopefully be available in the future based on alternative pathophysiological mechanism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Functional Capacity Evaluation methods (FCE) claim to measure the functional physical ability of a person to perform work-related tasks. The purpose of the present study was to systematically review the literature on the reliability and validity of four FCEs: the Blankenship system (BS), the ERGOS work simulator (EWS), the Ergo-Kit (EK) and the Isernhagen work system (IWS).Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in five databases (CINAHL, Medline, Embase, OSH-ROM and Picarta) using the following keywords and their synonyms:functional capacity evaluation,reliabilityandvalidity. The search strategy was performed for relevance in titles and abstracts, and the databases were limited to literature published between 1980 and April 2004. Two independent reviewers applied the inclusion criteria to select all relevant articles and evaluated the methodological quality of all included articles.Results: The search resulted in 77 potential relevant references but only 12 papers were identified for inclusion and assessed for their methodological quality. The interrater reliability and predictive validity of the IWS were evaluated as good while the procedure used in the intrarater reliability (test-retest) studies was not rigorous enough to allow any conclusion. The concurrent validity of the EWS and EK was not demonstrated while no study was found on their reliability. No study was found on the reliability and validity of the BS.Conclusions: More rigorous studies are needed to demonstrate the reliability and the validity of FCE methods, especially the BS, EWS and EK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This lecture is being given on the occasion of NFAIS' 40th Anniversary. The sixties, shortly after NFAIS was formed, blossomed into a decade of unprecedented development of Scientific & Technical Information (STI) programs and initiatives in both the public and private sectors. The Weinberg report, the formation of the Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Committee on Scientific and Technical Information (COSATI) in the Office of the President, as well as the birth of MEDLARS from the National Library of Medicine marked this decade. The 70's saw some dismantling of government‐wide STI efforts, but the Rockefeller Report reaffirmed the need for cooperative public/private development of national information policy. The eighties saw National Academy of Sciences (NAS) studies in information technology, the emergence of NSFNET, Federal STI was seen by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) as important to the U.S. competitive edge, and the formation of CENDI took up the mantel of the former COSATI. By the close of the decade the High Performance Computing & Communication Agencies (HPCC), the National Information Infrastructure (NII), the Internet, and the World Wide Web reinvented the Government and improved information access for citizens. Throughout all these years the relationship between the Feds and the private sector with regard to information dissemination roles has generated controversy. OSTP failed to assume its legislative role in formulating information management policy, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) attempted to fill the gap. A new framework is proposed here to deal with information policy, including such arenas as database protection, copyright, fair use, privacy, information access etc. and, hopefully an atmosphere of renewed cooperation across all sectors in the information chain that will result in the delivery of STI for the common good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective: To systematically review the incidence of biological and technical complications in implant therapy reported in prospective longitudinal studies of at least 5 years. Methods: A MEDLINE search was conducted for prospective longitudinal studies with follow-up periods of at least 5 years. Screening and data abstraction were performed independently by multiple reviewers. The types of complications assessed were as follows: implant loss, sensory disturbance, soft tissue complications, peri-implantitis, bone loss ≥2.5 mm, implant fracture and technical complications related to implant components and suprastructures. Results: The search provided 1310 titles and abstracts, out of which 159 were selected for full-text analysis. Finally, 51 studies were included. Meta analysis of these studies indicated that implant loss prior to functional loading is to be expected to occur in about 2.5% of all implants placed in implant therapy including more than one implant and when routine procedures are used. Implant loss during function occurs in about 2–3% of implants supporting fixed reconstructions, while in overdenture therapy >5% of the implants can be expected to be lost during a 5-year period. Few studies (41% of those included) reported data on the incidence of persisting sensory disturbance >1 year following implant surgery. Most of the studies that provided such data reported on the absence or a low incidence (1–2%) of this complication beyond this interval. A higher incidence of soft tissue complications was reported for patients treated with implants supporting overdentures. There is limited information regarding the occurrence of peri-implantitis and implants exhibiting bone loss ≥2.5 mm. Implant fracture is a rare complication and occurs in <1% of all implants during a 5-year period. The incidence of technical complications related to implant components and suprastructures was higher in overdentures than in fixed reconstructions. Conclusion: Implant loss was most frequently described (reported in about 100% of studies), while biological complications were considered in only 40–60% and technical complications in only 60–80% of the studies. This observation indicates that data on the incidence of biological and technical complications may be underestimated and should be interpreted with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines several biomedical databases of primary interest in the field of complementary and alternative medicine. Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System from the United States National Library of Medicine; EMBASE database produced by Elsevier Science BV; Citation databases produced by the Institute for Scientific Information.

Objectives: A previous extensive review of the literature including that from the middle of 1992 concluded that whole-body vibrations may contribute to low back pain, but that the exposure-response relationship had not been clarified. We reviewed the literature of the past 7 years to find out: (i) whether there is evidence in the recent epidemiological literature for a causal association between whole-body vibrations and low back pain, and (ii) if there is evidence in the recent literature for a dose-response relationship between whole-body vibrations and low back pain. Methods: All relevant epidemiological articles which were obtained through a search in the databases MEDLINE, OSH-ROM and TOXLINE, and through personal communication, were reviewed independently by the two authors, using a checklist. Results: Twenty-four original articles concerning the association between whole-body vibrations and the lower back were retained for use. The quality of the papers was mostly low, but improved with time. Only seven articles passed our predetermined quality criteria. Of the seven reports, one showed increased frequency of lumbar prolapse in occupational drivers, and six showed low back pain to be more frequent in whole-body vibration-exposed groups. Only two out of the four articles reporting on dose, showed a dose-response association. Conclusions: Despite the lack of definite evidence, we found sufficient reasons for the reduction of whole-body vibration-exposure to the lowest possible level. If new knowledge is to be produced, good prospective studies with repeated measurements of exposure, analyses of work postures, and clear definitions and subgroupings of low back pain are needed. Other research in this field should be given up, and the resources used for more important issues, as the size of the problem of whole body vibration is probably on the decrease because of the technical prophylactic developments that are already in progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackground: Since 1987 research articles have been catalogued with the author's affiliation address in the 40 databases of the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLARS) of the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Md. The present study was conducted to examine the Canadian entries in MEDLARS to interpret past and future trends and to combine the MEDLARS demographic data with data from other sources to rank Canadian research output of human studies both nationally and internationally.Methods: The PubMed Web site of the National Library of Medicine was used to count medical articles archived in MEDLARS and published from Jan. 1, 1989, through Dec. 31, 1998. The articles attributed to Canadian authors were compared by country, province, city, medical school, hospital, article type, journal and medical specialty.Results: During the study period Canadian authors contributed on average 3% (standard deviation [SD] 0.2%) of the worldwide MEDLARS content each year, which translated to a mean of 11 067 (SD 1037) articles per year; 49% were human studies, of which 13% were clinical or controlled trials, and 55% involved people aged 18 years or less. In total, 68% of the articles were by authors affiliated with Canadian medical schools; those affiliated with the University of Toronto accounted for the greatest number (8604), whereas authors affiliated with McGill University had the greatest rate of annual increase in the quantity published (8%). Over one-third (38%) of the articles appeared in Canadian journals. When counted by specialty, 17% of the articles were by authors with clinical specialties, 5% by those with surgical specialties and 3% by those with laboratory specialties.Interpretation: The annual rate of increase in research output for Canada was more than 3 times higher than that seen world wide. Canada is now ranked seventh among countries contributing human studies to MEDLARS. The increase indicates that Canada's medical schools are... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]