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An evaluation of vernal pool creation projects in New England: project documentation from 1991-2000.

Vernal pools are vulnerable to loss through development and agricultural and forestry practices owing to their isolation from open water bodies and their small size. Some vernal pool-dependent species are already listed in New England as Endangered, Threatened, or Species of Special Concern. Vernal pool creation is becoming more common in compensatory mitigation as open water ponds, in general, may be easier to create than wooded wetlands. However, research on vernal pool creation is limited. A recent National Research Council study (2001) cites vernal pools as "challenging to recreate." We reviewed documentation on 15 vernal pool creation projects in New England that were required by federal regulatory action. Our purpose was to determine whether vernal pool creation for compensatory mitigation in New England replaced key vernal pool functions by assessing project goals and documentation (including mitigation plans, pool design criteria, monitoring protocols, and performance standards). Our results indicate that creation attempts often fail to replicate lost pool functions. Pool design specifications are often based on conjecture rather than on reference wetlands or created pools that function successfully. Project monitoring lacks consistency and reliability, and record keeping by regulatory agencies is inadequate. Strengthening of protection of isolated wetlands in general, and standardization across all aspects of vernal pool creation, is needed to ensure success and to promote conservation of the long-term landscape functions of vernal pools.

Agriculture↗

Influence of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with documented atherosclerosis.

UNLABELLED: Some medications have been shown to produce reductions in hs-CRP levels after initiating therapy. Whereas the role of the renin-angiotensin system in the inflammatory process has been documented in more detail during the last few years, the impact of an ACE-inhibitor therapy on this process has not been fully understood so far. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a therapy with the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril on hs-CRP plasma concentrations in patients with atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 24 patients were enrolled in this prospective, uncontrolled, open-label multicenter study. Inclusion criteria were documented atherosclerosis, baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein between 3 and 12 mg/l, LDL-Cholesterol < or =150 mg/dl and no previous treatment with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers. Ten patients, pretreated with statins, and 10 patients not previously treated with statins were eligible for statistical analysis. Baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was significantly decreased from 3.99+/-1.61 mg/l (mean+/-SD) to 2.72+/-1.19 mg/l (-32%) after 3 months treatment with 10 mg ramipril daily (p=0.0002). The decrease was more pronounced in patients who had not been treated with statins previously (-1.50 mg/l+/-1.44 mg/l) compared to those who were pretreated (-0.90 mg/l+/-0.93 mg/l). CONCLUSIONS: The ACE inhibitor ramipril administered in a daily dose of 10 mg to patients with atherosclerosis reduces the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentration. This effect may contribute to cardiovascular risk reduction mediated by ramipril aside from the blood pressure lowering effect.

Adult↗

Medical care of obese children and adolescents. APV: a standardised multicentre documentation derived to study initial presentation and cardiovascular risk factors in patients transferred to specialised treatment institutions.

UNLABELLED: So far in Europe, no studies have been published on the structuring of medical care for obese children and adolescents. Besides anthropometric parameters, evaluations of the cardiovascular risk factors hypertension, dyslipidaemia, impaired glucose metabolism and treatment modalities were documented in a standardised multicentre evaluation survey (APV) of 18 primarily outpatient and nine rehabilitation institutions. In total, 3837 children (aged 2-20 years) took part in the years 2000 up to March 2003, of whom 1985 were treated in outpatient institutions and 1852 in rehabilitation institutions. Of these children, 10% were overweight, 37% obese, 49% extremely obese and 4% of normal weight at initial presentation. The frequencies of diagnostic procedures performed and documented were low (measurement of blood pressure 43%, lipids 40%, glucose metabolism 21%). In the subgroup of obese children who were screened for cardiovascular risk factors, 23% suffered from hypertension, 11% displayed increased cholesterol, 9% increased low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, 29% increased triglycerides, 11% decreased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and 6% had impaired glucose metabolism. CONCLUSION: Despite the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in obese children and adolescents confirmed in this report, diagnostic procedures failed in a considerable percentage even in specialised treatment centres for obese children and adolescents. In future, the feedback based on standardised evaluation of diagnostic and treatment procedures should aim to improve the quality of medical care.

Adolescent↗

[Computer-assisted tool (QUAST) for documentation and quality assurance in pain treatment].

BACKGROUND: In chronic pain patient's diagnostic and therapy planning many complex information must be evaluated and analysed. The variety of data cannot be mastered without assistance of a database tool adapted to these special need. DATABASE ENVIRONMENT: On the base of FileMaker Pro 5.0, a user-friendly and analysis-oriented database environment for documentation and quality assurance in pain therapy (QUAST) has been developed. QUAST has been tested for 2 years by 23 pain clinics in Germany including data of more than 14.000 patients. Among patients'demographic and clinical data all 335 fields of the validated German pain questionnaire are included in QUAST together with psychometric test procedures (CES, SES, PDI, SF-36). We developed a outcome questionnaire for the evaluation of treatment - related changes of outcome variables (103 fields), a daily questionnaire (11 fields) and a protocol to assess the effects of neural and other blockades (144 fields). All data of therapy and outcome can be documented (total number of the fields: 2661). The test results (e. g. in the form of total or compound scores) can be analysed and printed. For pain related diagnoses, procedures, blockades, drugs, expected and unexpected events hierarchical coding systems (altogether 72,157 data records) have been developed. These can be assigned automatically to coding systems like ICD-10 or ICP-M. CONCLUSION: Due to its ability of export into other databases and already enclosed routines QUAST permits an internal assurance of quality of process and outcome in pain management. It also can be an instrument of an external quality assurance. QUAST is at present the only computer system available in Germany, to fulfil the required prerequisites for adequate quality control.

English Abstract↗

Effect of a diphtheria booster vaccination in adults with a documented history of an incomplete primary series vaccination.

BACKGROUND: An incomplete series of diphtheria vaccination is frequently found in the vaccination documents of adult patients. This paper investigates the effect of a booster vaccination in adults with an incomplete series of primary vaccination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effect of one diphtheria booster vaccination in adults with a documented history of only two childhood vaccinations has been investigated in 21 adults. Before the vaccination and 4 to 8 weeks thereafter, blood samples were taken and analyzed with an in vitro neutralization assay. RESULTS: None of the participants had prevaccinal full protective diphtheria antitoxin levels (AT) > or = 0.1 IU/ml and four (19%) had limited serological protection (AT 0.01 to 0.1 IU/ml). After the vaccination, 14 individuals (67%) had protective LeveLs and six (29%) had limited protective levels. The risk for post-booster non-protection (AT < 0.1 IU/ml) was 7.7 times higher in comparison with a group of 170 adults with a history of at least one booster vaccination. CONCLUSION: A specific immunologic memory exists in adults with a history of only two previous diphtheria vaccinations. However, our results also indicate the need for a second booster vaccination in this group if long-term protection is to be achieved.

Adult↗

Initiation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in patients with discontinuous anterograde atrioventricular nodal conduction curves with and without documented supraventricular tachycardia: observations on the role of a discontinuous retrograde conduction curve.

To evaluate factors playing a role in initiation of atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentrant tachycardia utilizing anterogradely a slow and retrogradely a fast conducting AV nodal pathway, 38 patients having no accessory pathways and showing discontinuous anterograde AV nodal conduction curves during atrial stimulation were studied. Twenty-two patients (group A) underwent an electrophysiologic investigation because of recurrent paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) that had been electrocardiographically documented before the study. Sixteen patients (group B) underwent the study because of a history of palpitations (15 patients) or recurrent ventricular tachycardia (one patient); in none of them had SVT ever been electrocardiographically documented before the investigation. Twenty-one of the 22 patients of group A demonstrated continuous retrograde conduction curves during ventricular stimulation. In 20 tachycardia was initiated by either a single atrial premature beat (18 patients) or by two atrial premature beats. Fifteen of the 16 patients of group B had discontinuous retrograde conduction curves during ventricular stimulation, with a long refractory period of their retrograde fast pathway. Tachycardia was initiated by multiple atrial premature beats in one patient. Thirteen out of the remaining 15 patients received atropine. Thereafter tachycardia could be initiated in three patients by a single atrial premature beat, by two atrial premature beats in one patient, and by incremental atrial pacing in another patient. In the remaining eight patients tachycardia could not be initiated. Our observations indicate that the pattern of ventriculoatrial conduction found during ventricular stimulation is a marker for ease of initiation of AV nodal tachycardia in patients with discontinuous anterograde AV nodal conduction curves.

Adolescent↗

Comparative study of exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias in normal subjects and patients with documented coronary artery disease.

The incidence, types and patterns of emergence of treadmill exercise induced ventricular arrhythmias were studied in 482 subjects with and without coronary heart disease. All subjects were free of premature ventricular complexes at rest and were classified into groups on the basis of their clinical status. In Group 1A were 141 patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteriograms and in Group IB 144 age-matched subjects free of clinical evidence of heart disease. Group II consisted of 197 patients with chest pain and arteriographically documented coronary artery disease. Patients in Group IA and II exercised to at least 85% of their predicted maximal heart rate or until chest pain occurred. Subjects in Group IB underwent maximal exercise testing. The total incidence of exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias was 16% in Group IA, 44% in Group IB and 29% in Group II. However, when exercise heart rate at the time of appearance of ventricular arrhythmias was taken into account the incidence of exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias up to a heart rate of 130/min was 27% in the patients with documented coronary artery disease (Group II) compared with rates of 9 and 6%, respectively, for Groups IA and IB (P less than 0.001). The incidence rates of multifocal ventricular premature complexes, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular premature complexes at a rate of more than 10/min were also significantly greater at submaximal heart rates in the patients with coronary disease. Patients with three vessel coronary artery disease and abnormal left ventricular wall motion had a significantly greater incidence of exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias. The incidence of exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias in patients with coronary disease and a positive S-T segment response was not significantly increased.

Adult↗

Results of a ventricular stimulation protocol using a maximum of 4 premature stimuli in patients without documented or suspected ventricular arrhythmias.

A prospective study was undertaken to assess the results of an aggressive ventricular stimulation protocol in 52 nonmedicated patients without a documented or suspected ventricular arrhythmia (VA). Thirty-five patients had no structural heart disease, 8 coronary artery disease, 6 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 2 mitral valve disease and 1 patient had congestive cardiomyopathy. The patients were 12 to 72 years old. One to 4 ventricular premature beats (twice diastolic threshold, 2 ms in duration) were given during sinus rhythm and during ventricular pacing at 100 beats/min at the right ventricular apex. End points were initiation of 6 or more beats of VA or every extrastimulus brought to its refractory period. In 31 of 52 patients (60%), a VA was initiated (nonsustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in 24 patients, nonsustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in 2 and ventricular fibrillation requiring countershock in 5). Repetitive ventricular responses (RVR) (1 to 5 beats) were initiated in 46 patients. In 15 patients only RVRs were initiated. In 6 patients RVRs or VA were not initiated. At the end of the follow-up period (mean 14 months), no patient had spontaneous VA and all were alive. This study shows that ventricular stimulation can result in initiation of VA in patients without clinical VA. Interpretation of results of programmed ventricular stimulation in patients without clinically documented VA should be made with caution.

Adolescent↗

Spontaneous remission of variant angina documented by Holter monitoring and ergonovine testing in patients treated with calcium antagonists.

Twenty-four patients with Prinzmetal's variant angina showing a favorable initial response to calcium antagonist treatment were studied to assess the evolution of the disease and the frequency and time course of spontaneous remission. At 3, 6 and 12 months from the acute phase, patients underwent in-hospital control studies, with 48-hour Holter monitoring and ergonovine testing carried out during treatment and after its interruption. During calcium antagonist therapy complete protection from spontaneous attacks was documented in 22 of 24 patients at 3 months, in 19 of 21 at 6 months and in all 21 at 12 months; ergonovine test results were negative in 16 of 23 patients at 3 months, in 16 of 20 at 6 months and in all 20 studied at 12 months. After stopping treatment spontaneous attacks did not reappear in 7 of 24 patients (29%), 14 of 21 (66%) and 16 of 21 (76%) at 3, 6 and 12 months respectively, while the ergonovine test response remained negative in 6 of 21 (28%), 7 of 18 (39%) and 13 of 20 (65%) of the patients controlled at 3, 6 and 12 months. Thus, complete remission of angina documented by both Holter recording and ergonovine testing occurred in 5 of 24 patients (21%) at 3 months, in 7 of 21 (33%) at 6 months and in 12 of 21 (57%) at 12 months. Patients with remission of angina had a shorter duration of symptoms and more often showed normal or not critically diseased coronary arteries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

Black/white differences in risk factors for arteriographically documented coronary artery disease in men.

Although the leading cause of death among black men in the United States is coronary artery disease (CAD), risk factors have not been well documented in black populations. Therefore, possible racial differences in the relation of several characteristics to the extent of CAD were assessed in 4,722 white and 169 black men who underwent arteriography. Associations between an occlusion score (ranging from 0 to 300), reflecting the severity of CAD, and levels of total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, relative weight, systemic hypertension and diabetes mellitus were examined. Most risk factors were significantly related to the extent of CAD in both races, but lipid levels showed stronger associations with CAD among blacks: correlations between CAD and total cholesterol were 0.16 (whites) vs 0.29 (blacks) and associations with HDL cholesterol were -0.22 (whites) vs -0.49 (blacks). In addition, at adverse levels of certain risk factors, blacks had more extensive CAD than did whites: mean occlusion scores were 148 (whites) and 238 (blacks) at HDL cholesterol levels less than 30 mg/dl. As assessed by multiple linear regression, however, only triglyceride levels were differentially related to CAD between whites (beta = 0) and blacks (beta = 0.47), p less than 0.01 for racial contrast. These results document the importance of risk factors in black men and indicate black/white differences in the relation of triglycerides to CAD.

Adult↗

Mechanisms and dynamics of episodes of progression of 2:1 atrioventricular block in patients with documented two-level conduction disturbances.

Twenty episodes of progression of 2:1 atrioventricular (AV) block were identified during incremental atrial stimulation in 7 patients with documented (2-level) block in the AV node and His-Purkinje system. All occurred at cycle lengths shorter than those at which stable 2:1 HV block had been detected. Thirteen episodes were typical since 2:1 increased to 3:1 AV block when an atrio-His (AH) Wenckebach period was completed with an atrial impulse that otherwise would have been conducted. These episodes occurred with dynamic A(M): V(N) ratios similar to those seen at the AV node. Seven atypical episodes were identified (while AH Wenckebach periods were occurring): (1) 2:1 increasing to 3:1 AV block and then to 4:1 AV block resulting from prolonged refractoriness in the His-Purkinje system subsequently followed by concealed conduction in the latter structure; (2) conversion of 3:2 directly into 3:1 AV block due to block of the next-to-last atrial impulse in the His-Purkinje system with completion of AH Wenckebach period with the following atrial impulse; and (3) 4:2 AV block presumably due to supernormal conduction in a transversely dissociated His-Purkinje system. These episodes occurred with A(M): V(N) ratios, which in other structures would have been indicative of different degrees of AV block. In conclusion, progression of 2:1 AV block during documented 2 level conduction disturbances (1) can be explained by mechanisms different than those currently known, and (2) has rich, but different dynamics from those observed exclusively in the AV node and exclusively in the His-Purkinje system.

Bundle of His↗

Neonatal morbidity after preterm delivery in the presence of documented lung maturity.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the incidence of significant neonatal morbidity in fetuses with documented pulmonary maturity delivered before 37 weeks' gestation. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of 213 pregnancies with documented fetal lung maturity (lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio > or = 2.0 or phosphatidylglycerol present) and delivery before 37 weeks was performed. The incidence of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, grade 3 or 4 intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, patent ductus arteriosus, retinopathy of prematurity, infectious morbidity, hyperbilirubinemia, and admission to the special care nursery was determined for those pregnancies with intact membranes and preterm premature rupture of membranes. RESULTS: Serious neonatal morbidity declined with advancing gestational age and was less common after 32 completed weeks of pregnancy. Although the frequencies of respiratory distress syndrome, grade 3 or 4 intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis were 19.4% (12/62), 8.1% (5/62), and 4.8% (3/62), respectively, at < or = 33 weeks' gestation, one case of respiratory distress syndrome, one case of grade 3 intraventricular hemorrhage, and one case of necrotizing enterocolitis occurred in the 151 neonates born at > or = 34 weeks' gestation. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of fetal lung maturity major neonatal morbidity was observed in our patient population. These data relating neonatal morbidity to gestational age are useful in the critical decision regarding timing of delivery.

Adult↗

Managing research data with self-documenting files.

Processing biomedical research data is frequently complex due to the evolutionary nature of experiments and the requisite modification of analysis software. For the past several years we have been evolving a set of software tools designed to improve our ability to respond to evolving experimental designs. These tools allow the investigator to easily manipulate the research data and specify desired data transformations at run time. Coupling of analysis software to research data files is dependent on data files that are commented in a manner similar to that used in programming languages. The resulting annotated data files are self-documenting, and their use facilitates visual interpretation of displayed data as well as automatic processing of subsets of data. Here we present a formal description of a self-documenting file and describe several software tools that facilitate processing of biomedical research data.

Electronic Data Processing↗

A computerized documentation system for cancer pain management units.

A cancer pain management unit can benefit markedly from a well-planned documentation system for administrative and scientific purposes. This article presents the principles of such a computerized system based on relational data base programs. The described system has been used by the authors for the last seven years. The successful documentation of more than 1400 patients over treatment periods of up to 2 years has provided detailed administrative and scientific information.

Algorithms↗

Digitization of electrophysiological documents.

The mechanism presented in this paper is devoted to the transfer of paper documents as electrophysiological records into 'electronic documents' for direct storage and analysis by a computer.

Computers↗

Dengue 1 epidemic in French Polynesia, 1988-1989: surveillance and clinical, epidemiological, virological and serological findings in 1752 documented clinical cases.

An epidemic of dengue 1 occurred in French Polynesia in December 1988 and June 1989. This paper records (i) the trend of the outbreak and its surveillance and (ii) the clinical, epidemiological and virological data obtained from 1752 documented cases. The epidemic reached its peak in February in Tahiti Island, 7 weeks after its recognition. Among 6034 suspect cases reported by sentinel physicians, 60.3% were < 20 years old. The illness was classical dengue. No fatality or case of dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue with shock syndrome was reported. Of 4792 patients subjected to laboratory testing, 41% were confirmed as positive. The serological attack rate was c. 40%. The estimated number of dengue infections in the Windward Islands was about 20,000. Transmission was associated with Aedes aegypti. Study of documented cases showed a higher confirmation rate in both the civilian population < 15 years old (46.5%) and the susceptible French military population (47.6%) than in older civilians (31.1%, P < 0.05). Furthermore, primary dengue infections were predominant in both of the first 2 groups. The diagnosis was mostly confirmed (i) by virus isolation on day < 5 of illness and (ii) by detection of immunoglobulin (Ig) M on day > or = 5 of illness. The study showed that adequate surveillance of an epidemic requires both clinically and laboratory-based systems.

Dengue↗

Effect of liaison psychiatry on attitudes toward psychiatry, rate of consultation, and psychosocial documentation.

Prior literature suggested that psychiatric liaison on medical wards would produce a more positive attitude towards psychiatry, more psychosocial chart documentation, and a higher consultation request rate. Over 3 years, liaison was conducted on two medical wards, and its effect was contrasted with two control (consultation only) medical wards. Liaison activities were more favorably received by consultees than consultation alone and increased the consultation request rate, but produced no change in psychosocial documentation. Additional effectiveness of liaison activities might be achieved through direct, focused interventions, and through active involvement of senior medical faculty.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Television system for verification and documentation of treatment fields during intraoperative radiation therapy.

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) involves direct treatment of tumors or tumor beds with large single doses of radiation. The verification of the area to be treated before irradiation and the documentation of the treated area are critical for IORT, just as for other types of radiation therapy. A television system which allows the target area to be directly imaged immediately before irradiation has been developed. Verification and documentation of treatment fields has made the IORT television system indispensable.

Intraoperative Care↗