Increasing Utilization (increasing + utilization)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Sex Categorization Among Preschool Children: Increasing Utilization of Sexually Dimorphic Cues

CHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2010
Kerri L. Johnson
Two studies examined how children between ages 4 and 6 use body shape (i.e., the waist-to-hip-ratio [WHR]) for sex categorization. In Study 1 (N = 73), 5- and 6-year-olds, but not 4-year-olds, selected bodies with increasingly discrepant WHRs to be "most like a man" and "most like a woman." Similarly, sex category judgments made by 5- and 6-year-olds, but not 4-year-olds, varied with WHR. In Study 2 (N = 41), eye movements indicated the functional use of waist and hips in sex categorization. Visual scanning behavior predicted the degree of association between WHR and judgment. Collectively, these results suggest that the ability to exploit sexual dimorphism to compel categorization develops between the ages of 4 and 6. Implications for theories of gender development and psychological essentialism are discussed. [source]


A transcriptomic analysis of land-use impacts on the oyster, Crassostrea virginica, in the South Atlantic bight

MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 11 2009
ROBERT W. CHAPMAN
Abstract Increasing utilization and human population density in the coastal zone is widely believed to place increasing stresses on the resident biota, but confirmation of this belief is somewhat lacking. While we have solid evidence that highly disturbed estuarine systems have dramatic changes in the resident biota (black and white if you will), we lack tools that distinguish the shades of grey. In part, this lack of ability to distinguish shades of grey stems from the analytical tools that have been applied to studies of estuarine systems, and perhaps more important, is the insensitivity of the biological end points that we have used to assess these impacts. In this study, we will present data on the phenotypic adjustments as measured by transcriptomic signatures of a resilient organism (oysters) to land-use practices in the surrounding watershed using advanced machine-learning algorithms. We will demonstrate that such an approach can reveal subtle and meaningful shifts in oyster gene expression in response to land use. Further, the data show that gill tissues are far more responsive and provide superior discrimination of land-use classes than hepatopancreas and that transcripts encoding proteins involved in energy production, protein synthesis and basic metabolism are more robust indicators of land use than classic biomarkers such as metallothioneins, GST and cytochrome P-450. [source]


SURGICAL INDICATIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR BLEEDING PEPTIC ULCER

DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 2010
Nobutsugu Abe
Recent important insights into the surgical treatment of bleeding peptic ulcer are reviewed in this article. Although the widespread use of endoscopic treatment and interventional radiology has reduced the number of surgical cases, surgery still plays a pivotal role in managing bleeding peptic ulcer. Failure to stop the bleeding by endoscopy and/or interventional radiology is the most important indication for emergency surgery. An early elective/planned surgery after the initial endoscopic control to prevent life-threatening rebleeding seems justified in patients who have risk factors for rebleeding, although its true efficacy still remains controversial. The surgical procedures in emergency situations should be limited to safe hemostasis. The addition of acid-reduction surgery may be unnecessary as a result of the increasing utilization of proton pump inhibitors. Angiographic embolization may be a less invasive alternative to surgery, and may further enhance endoscopic hemostasis. [source]


Noninferiority and equivalence designs: Issues and implications for mental health research

JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, Issue 5 2008
Carolyn J. Greene
The terms noninferiority and equivalence are often used interchangeably to refer to trials in which the primary objective is to show that a novel intervention is as effective as the standard intervention. The use of these designs is becoming increasingly relevant to mental health research. Despite the fundamental importance of these designs, they are often poorly understood, improperly applied, and subsequently misinterpreted. In this article, the authors explain noninferiority and equivalence designs and key methodological and statistical considerations. Decision points in using these designs are discussed, such as choice of control condition, determination of the noninferiority margin, and calculation of sample size and power. With increasing utilization of these designs, it is critical that researchers understand the methodological issues, advantages, disadvantages, and related challenges. [source]


Recurrent pneumothoraces associated with nocturnal noninvasive ventilation in a patient with muscular dystrophy

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 1 2002
Lee R. Choo-Kang MD
Abstract Although a common complication of mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory failure, spontaneous pneumothorax has been rarely reported among patients on chronic, intermittent, noninvasive positive pressure support. We report the first case of recurrent pneumothoraces associated with nocturnal bilevel positive airway pressure ventilation via a nasal mask. A 26-year old man with chronic respiratory failure secondary to an unclassified neuromuscular condition suffered four separate episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax over a 12-month period. Two episodes occurred while he was asleep on bilevel positive airway pressure support. He was found to have numerous subpleural blebs, and we propose a mechanism for their development. Following open pleurodesis and blebectomy, the patient has not had another pneumothorax. Given the increasing utilization of chronic nocturnal bilevel positive airway pressure ventilation, we suggest that healthcare providers and patients be made aware of this potentially life-threatening complication. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2002; 34:73,78. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Methadone and Buprenorphine Toxicity in Children

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS, Issue 1 2010
Edward W. Boyer MD
Recent years have seen very large increases in the prescribing of methadone and buprenorphine formulations for treatment of opioid addiction as well as the increasing utilization of methadone for the treatment of chronic pain. Coincident with the rise in the prescribing of these drugs has been a substantial increase in pediatric opioid toxicities and adverse events. This review will address the current state of methadone- and buprenorphine-related adverse events in children in the United States. We will also discuss treatment of opioid toxicity in pediatric populations and make recommendations aimed at reducing these occurrences.,(Am J Addict 2009;19:89,95) [source]


Driving forces behind increasing cardiovascular drug utilization: a dynamic pharmacoepidemiological model

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 6 2008
Helle Wallach Kildemoes
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT , Several studies indicate that switch to more expensive drugs and increasing treatment intensity, rather than population ageing have been responsible for rising drug expenditures during the 1990s. , Little is known about the driving forces behind the increasing treatment intensity with cardiovascular drugs. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS , This study provides a new pharmacoepidemiological method to analyse drug utilization trends, applying dispensing data at the individual level. , The suggested semi-Markov model allows for quantification of the influence of changing incidence, discontinuation and user mortality on rising treatment prevalence. , Increasing treatment incidence was the main driver behind rising treatment prevalence for most cardiovascular drug categories. , Whereas declining discontinuation drove some of the growth, declining mortality among drug users had little influence. AIMS To investigate the driving forces behind increasing utilization of cardiovascular drugs. METHODS Using register data, all Danish residents as of 1 January 1996 were followed until 2006. Cohort members were censored at death or emigration. Cardiovascular drug utilization on the individual level was traced, applying registered out-of-hospital dispensing. The impact of population ageing on cardiovascular drug utilization was investigated using standardized intensities and prevalences. Based on a three-state (untreated, treated and dead) semi-Markov model, we explored to what extent increasing treatment prevalence was driven by changing incidence, discontinuation and mortality. Expected treatment prevalences were modelled, applying stratum-specific cohort prevalence in 1996 along with incidence, discontinuation and drug user mortality either throughout 1996,2004 or at fixed 1996 levels. RESULTS Treatment prevalence (ages ,20 years) with cardiovascular drugs increased by 39% during 1996,2005 from 192.4 to 256.9 per 1000 inhabitants (95% confidence interval 256.5, 257.3). Treatment intensity grew by 109% from 272 to 569 defined daily doses 1000,1 day,1. Population ,middle-ageing' accounted for 11.5 and 20.3%, respectively. Increasing treatment incidence was the main driver of the rising treatment prevalence in most drug categories. Declining discontinuation drove some of the growth, declining drug user mortality less. Even with fixed incidence in the model, treatment prevalence continued to increase. CONCLUSIONS Age-related increases in treatment intensity and prevalence, rather than population ageing, drove the increasing treatment intensity with cardiovascular drugs. Increasing treatment prevalence in subgroups was primarily caused by increasing incidence. Due to pharmacoepidemiological disequilibrium, treatment prevalence will continue to grow even with unchanged incidence. [source]