LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Who needs direct-acting antivirals for HCV? Challenges faced in advancing HCV therapy for HIV-HCV-coinfected individuals.

BACKGROUND
The recent availability of new direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for HCV treatment, which significantly increase sustained virological response rates for genotype 1 HCV infection, has brought new optimism with respect to curative HCV treatment for HIV-HCV-coinfected patients. We describe the characteristics of coinfected patients who could be eligible for DAAs to determine potential challenges facing clinicians and patients hoping to take advantage of these new therapies.


METHODS
We evaluated the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the genotype 1 HCV-HIV-infected participants in a Canadian prospective multicentre cohort study at their most recent visit to assess potential eligibility for combination HCV treatment with boceprevir or telaprevir.


RESULTS
Of the 1,020 coinfected participants enrolled in the cohort, 707 (85%) had evidence of chronic HCV infection (HCV-RNA-positive), of whom 497 (70%) were infected with genotype 1; 375 (75%) were naive to HCV treatment and 122 (25%) had previously received therapy and failed. Only 143 (38%) of HCV treatment-naive and 39 (32%) of treatment-experienced participants had no absolute contraindications for treatment. Alcohol abuse, active depression and decompensated liver disease were the most frequent reasons for treatment ineligibility. The majority would require alterations in antiretroviral regimens to avoid important drug-drug interactions.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the need for curative HCV therapy in HIV-HCV coinfection is great, the actual number of patients who could be eligible for DAAs at the present time may be quite low. There remains an urgent need to develop safe, simple and interferon-sparing treatments for coinfected individuals.
The Effect of Copper in Vitiligo

Recently many studies have been made to show that copper plays an important role in pigmentation. The initial observation dealing with the action of copper in this respect was an incidental finding made by Keil and Nelson (1) in 1931. While experimenting with rats in the study of nutritional or milk anemia, which is essentially a copper deficiency disease, these observers noted that the color of dark-haired animals changed to a silvery gray after the rats had been maintained on a milk diet for a number of weeks. In the same year, Cuningham (2) made three important observations relevant to this problem. First, he noted that the skin of black-coated animals was apt to contain more copper than that of white-coated ones; second, that the copper content of the skin was concentrated mainly in the epidermis; and thirdly, "in vitro" experiments demonstrated the fact that copper accelerated the oxidation of dopa by skin extracts containing dopa-oxidase. Nothing further was added to our knowledge concerning the action of copper in pigmentation until Gorter (3), in 1935, conclusively demonstrated the fact that copper-free diets resulted in depigmentation of the hair of rats, rabbits, and cats and that this depigmentation disappeared following the administration of copper. On the other hand, no effect on melanogenesis was obtained if other minerals or vitamins were added to the diet. The young rat was the animal most susceptible in demonstrating this action. In the same year Sarata (4) made the first definite attempt to correlate the copper content of the skin with its degree
Sterculia crosslinked PVA and PVA-poly(AAm) hydrogel wound dressings for slow drug delivery: mechanical, mucoadhesive, biocompatible and permeability properties.

The present study deals with the synthesis and characterization of sterculia crosslinked PVA and PVA-AAm hydrogel wound dressings. The hydrogels have been characterized by SEMs, FTIR, TGA and swelling studies. This article also discusses comparison of swelling, drug release and biomedical properties such as blood compatibility, antimicrobial activity, mucoadhesion, tensile strength, burst strength, water vapour permeability, oxygen diffusion and microbial penetration of both hydrogel wound dressings. These polymeric films have absorbed 4.80 ± 0.15 and 6.32 ± 0.15 gram/g of gel of simulated wound fluid respectively and swelling occurred through Case II diffusion mechanism. The release of antibiotic drugs occurred through non-Fickian and Case II diffusion mechanisms, respectively. These polymeric films have been observed to be permeable for oxygen and water vapour but have shown impermeability to the micro-organism. Sterculia-PVA hydrogel wound dressing has shown more blood compatibility as compared to the other film. All these results indicate that these hydrogel films may be used as wound dressings for the slow release of antibiotic drug to the wound.
Level of adenosine diphosphate receptor P2Y12 blockade during percutaneous coronary intervention predicts the extent of endothelial injury, assessed by circulating endothelial cell measurement.

OBJECTIVES
We aimed to investigate whether clopidogrel-induced inhibition of platelet reactivity could reduce the level of circulating endothelial cells (CEC), reflecting the endothelial injury induced by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).


BACKGROUND
Clopidogrel loading dose before percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCI) reduces platelet activation through a selective and irreversible blockade of the adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor P2Y(12). The impact of clopidogrel on endothelial cells has been scarcely studied.


METHODS
A total of 149 patients undergoing PCI for stable angina were enrolled. Levels of CEC were measured at baseline (H0) and 6 (H6) and 24 (H24) h after the procedure using a CD146-based immunomagnetic separation assay. The CEC delta-change (CEC at H6 - CEC at H0) was analyzed according to ADP receptor P2Y(12) blockade, assessed by a vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) assay after a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel.


RESULTS
The PCI induced a significant rise in CEC levels 6 h after the procedure. The CEC peak value was significantly higher in patients with high on-treatment platelet reactivity (VASP index ≥50%: 59.6 ± 27.5 cells/ml) as compared with good responders (VASP index <50%: 27 ± 22 cells/ml; p = 0.04). The endothelial injury, assessed by CEC delta-change between H6 and H0, was significantly higher in the high on-treatment platelet reactivity group compared with the good responders group (52.6 ± 25.6 vs. 18.6 ± 23.5, respectively; p < 0.001) and correlated with the VASP index (r = 0.59; p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, VASP group, the number of diseased vessels, and the number of implanted stents independently predicted the endothelial injury (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Optimal ADP receptor P2Y(12) blockade reduces the endothelial injury during PCI. This protective effect of clopidogrel on endothelial cells could add to the clinical benefit associated with this drug.
Equity, vulnerability and resilience in social–ecological systems: a contemporary example from the Russian Arctic

Environmental and social problems are tightly linked in coupled social– ecological systems in the Arctic. This chapter will discuss the importance of equity as a factor in the adaptive capacity of a region undergoing relatively rapid climate change and simultaneous land-use change (petroleum development) in the northwest Russian Arctic. Relative to North America, attempts to implement some kind of economic or legal equity with regard to massive industrial development are token at best. Unfortunately, in the current situation, legal rights to land and resources are neither likely to materialize nor, even if they did, to facilitate adaptive capacity on the part of Nenets herders. As such, herders lack power over important decisions pertaining to the manner in which development proceeds on their traditional territories. Equity and the Environment Research in Social Problems and Public Policy, Volume 15, 203–236 Copyright r 2008 by Elsevier Ltd. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved ISSN: 0196-1152/doi:10.1016/S0196-1152(07)15006-7
Improvement in insulin sensitivity after human islet transplantation for type 1 diabetes.

CONTEXT
Islet transplantation can improve metabolic control for type 1 diabetes (T1D), an effect anticipated to improve insulin sensitivity. However, current immunosuppression regimens containing tacrolimus and sirolimus have been shown to induce insulin resistance in rodents.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of islet transplantation on insulin sensitivity in T1D using euglycemic clamps with the isotopic dilution method to distinguish between effects at the liver and skeletal muscle.


DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
Twelve T1D subjects underwent evaluation in the Clinical and Translational Research Center before and between 6 and 7 months after the transplant and were compared with normal control subjects.


INTERVENTION
The intervention included intrahepatic islet transplantation according to a Clinical Islet Transplantation Consortium protocol under low-dose tacrolimus and sirolimus immunosuppression.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Total body (M/Δinsulin), hepatic (1/endogenous glucose production ·basal insulin) and peripheral [(Rd - endogenous glucose production)/Δinsulin] insulin sensitivity assessed by hyperinsulinemic (1 mU·kg(-1)·min(-1)) euglycemic (∼90 mg/dL) clamps with 6,6-(2)H2-glucose tracer infusion were measured.


RESULTS
Glycosylated hemoglobin was reduced in the transplant recipients from 7.0% ± 0.3% to 5.6% ± 0.1% (P < .01). There were increases in total (0.11 ± 0.01 to 0.15 ± 0.02 dL/min·kg per microunit per milliliter), hepatic [2.3 ± 0.1 to 3.7 ± 0.4 × 10(2) ([milligrams per kilogram per minute](-1)·(microunits per milliliter)(-1))], and peripheral (0.08 ± 0.01 to 0.12 ± 0.02 dL/min·kg per microunit per milliliter) insulin sensitivity from before to after transplantation (P < .05 for all). All insulin sensitivity measures were less than normal in T1D before (P ≤ .05) and not different from normal after transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Islet transplantation results in improved insulin sensitivity mediated by effects at both the liver and skeletal muscle. Modern dosing of glucocorticoid-free immunosuppression with low-dose tacrolimus and sirolimus does not induce insulin resistance in this population.
Mechanical property, biocorrosion and in vitro biocompatibility evaluations of Mg-Li-(Al)-(RE) alloys for future cardiovascular stent application.

Mg-Li-based alloys were investigated for future cardiovascular stent application as they possess excellent ductility. However, Mg-Li binary alloys exhibited reduced mechanical strengths due to the presence of lithium. To improve the mechanical strengths of Mg-Li binary alloys, aluminum and rare earth (RE) elements were added to form Mg-Li-Al ternary and Mg-Li-Al-RE quarternary alloys. In the present study, six Mg-Li-(Al)-(RE) alloys were fabricated. Their microstructures, mechanical properties and biocorrosion behavior were evaluated by using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy, tensile tests, immersion tests and electrochemical measurements. Microstructure characterization indicated that grain sizes were moderately refined by the addition of rare earth elements. Tensile testing showed that enhanced mechanical strengths were obtained, while electrochemical and immersion tests showed reduced corrosion resistance caused by intermetallic compounds distributed throughout the magnesium matrix in the rare-earth-containing Mg-Li alloys. Cytotoxicity assays, hemolysis tests as well as platelet adhesion tests were performed to evaluate in vitro biocompatibilities of the Mg-Li-based alloys. The results of cytotoxicity assays clearly showed that the Mg-3.5Li-2Al-2RE, Mg-3.5Li-4Al-2RE and Mg-8.5Li-2Al-2RE alloys suppressed vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation after 5day incubation, while the Mg-3.5Li, Mg-8.5Li and Mg-8.5Li-1Al alloys were proven to be tolerated. In the case of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, the Mg-Li-based alloys showed no significantly reduced cell viabilities except for the Mg-8.5Li-2Al-2RE alloy, with no obvious differences in cell viability between different culture periods. With the exception of Mg-8.5Li-2Al-2RE, all of the other Mg-Li-(Al)-(RE) alloys exhibited acceptable hemolysis ratios, and no sign of thrombogenicity was found. These in vitro experimental results indicate the potential of Mg-Li-(Al)-(RE) alloys as biomaterials for future cardiovascular stent application and the worthiness of investigating their biodegradation behaviors in vivo.
Tympanoplasty outcomes in elderly patients.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the outcomes of tympanoplasty in elderly (≥60 years) compared with young patients (18-59 years).


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients who had been performed type I tympanoplasty between 2009 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative and postoperative audiological results and the graft success of 42 older patients were compared with those of 72 younger ones.


RESULTS
The mean preoperative air conduction levels were statistically significantly higher in older group (57.4±16.8dB) than younger group (37.3±10.3dB) (p<0.001). Preoperative bone conduction levels were statistically significantly higher in older group (28.5±13.4dB) than in the younger group (12.4±4.8dB) (p<0.001). The mean preoperative and postoperative air-bone gaps were statistically significantly larger in the older group (28.5±11.0dB, 16.4±9.0dB) than in the younger group (24.9±7.7dB, 12.4±8.0dB respectively) (p<0.001). The intragroup comparisons of preoperative and postoperative mean air-bone gaps revealed statistically significant improvements in both groups (p<0.001 for both). Graft success rates and the mean hearing gains were not statistically significantly different between the groups (p=0.225, p=0.786 respectively).


CONCLUSION
Although preoperative and postoperative air and bone conduction levels were worse in the older group, graft take rates and postoperative hearing gain did not differ between the groups. If the physical status is stable tympanoplasty procedure can be recommended for elderly patients.
Development and validation of a model to predict the 10-year risk of general practitioner-recorded COPD

Background:There is increasing interest in the earlier detection of, and intervention in, patients at highest risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Aims:The objective of this research was to develop and validate a risk prediction model for general practitioner (GP)-recorded diagnosis of COPD.Methods:We used data from 239 Scottish GP practices; two-thirds were randomly allocated to a derivation cohort and the other third to a validation cohort. We included patients aged 35–74 years at the cohort entry date, and excluded patients with a recorded diagnosis of COPD prior to the entry date and with missing data on smoking status.Results:There were 480,903 patients in the derivation cohort and 247,755 in the validation cohort. The incidence of COPD in the total cohort was 5.53/1,000 patient-years of follow-up (95% confidence interval (CI), 5.46–5.60). In the derivation cohort, the COPD risk for ever- versus never-smokers was substantially higher in women (hazard ratio (HR)=9.61, 95% CI, 8.92–10.34) than in men (HR=6.72, 95% CI, 6.19–7.30). Other risk factors for both sexes were level of deprivation and a previously recorded asthma diagnosis. In the validation cohort, the model discriminated well between patients who did and those who did not develop COPD: area under the receiver operating characteristics curve=0.845 (95% CI, 0.840–0.850) for females and 0.832 (95% CI, 0.827–0.837) for males.Conclusions:We have developed and validated the first risk prediction model for COPD, which has the major advantage of being populated entirely by routinely collected data and consequently may be used for clinical practice.
Effects of pharmacologic treatment based on airflow limitation and breathlessness on daily physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND
Improvement in the daily physical activity (PA) is important for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the effects of pharmacologic treatment on PA are not well understood. We evaluated the effects of additional medications, including bronchodilator with or without inhaled corticosteroid, based on airflow limitation and breathlessness on the PA in COPD patients and the factors that could predict or affect the improvement in PA.


METHODS
A prospective non-randomized observational study was employed. Twenty-one COPD subjects without any other diseases that might reduce PA were recruited. The PA was measured with a triaxial accelerometer for 2 weeks, and pulmonary function tests and incremental shuttle walking tests were administered before and after 4-week treatment with an additional medication.


RESULTS
Bronchodilation was obtained by additional medication. The mean values of PA evaluated by metabolic equivalents (METs) at ≥3.0 METs and the duration of PA at ≥3.0 METs and ≥3.5 METs were improved by medication. The % change in the duration of PA at ≥3.5 METs was significantly correlated with the baseline functional residual capacity (FRC), residual volume, and inspiratory capacity/total lung capacity. However, the % change in the duration of PA at any intensity was not correlated with the % changes of any values of the pulmonary function tests or incremental shuttle walking test except the PA at ≥2.5 METs with FRC.


CONCLUSION
Medication could improve the PA in patients with COPD, especially at a relatively high intensity of activity when medication was administered based on airflow limitation and breathlessness. The improvement was seen in the patients with better baseline lung volume, but was not correlated with the improvements in the pulmonary function tests or exercise capacity.
Practical applications approach to design, development and implementation of an integrated management system.

The introduction of quality, risk, safety, health and environmental management philosophies has significantly changed industry's view of company organization and controlling processes. Quality, risk, safety, health and environmental programs and systems, such as ISO 9000, ISO 14000, process safety, and risk management are impacting the way industry will meet the challenges of safety and environmental risks and the needs of the customer in the future.A wealth of knowledge has been extracted from practical application case studies, which would otherwise be unobtainable without years of experience related to management systems design, development, implementation and control. This paper discusses a practical applications approach to design, develop and implement an integrated management system encompassing quality (ISO 9000), process safety management (CFR 29 1910.119), risk management programs (CFR 40 part 68), environmental management (ISO 14000), and safety and health. This paper includes a discussion of management systems integration and an overview of management systems standards that apply to the petrochemical and chemical manufacturers industries. The paper also provides an overview on integrating management systems, including issues related to the following topics: Establishing a management system team and objectives. Assessing and knowing your organization. Designing the management system to meet site objectives. Developing system documentation. Implementing effective management systems. Measuring program performance. Continuous improvement.
Spouses of Military Members' Experiences and Insights: Qualitative Analysis of Responses to an Open-Ended Question in a Survey of Health and Wellbeing

INTRODUCTION
There are few studies on the experiences of spouses of military members, with most focused on adverse impacts of deployment. Responses to an open-ended question in a survey of spouses' health and wellbeing enabled access to perceptions and insights on a broad range of topics. The objective of this investigation was to examine how respondents used the open-ended question and what they discussed, in aim of informing support service agencies and spouses of military members.


METHODS
Thematic analysis was conducted on responses to the open-ended question. Descriptive analysis was performed on the demographics, military member characteristics and self-reported health of respondents and non-respondents to the open-ended question.


FINDINGS
Over a quarter (28.5%) of the 1,332 survey participants answered the open-ended question, with respondents having a significantly higher level of education than non-respondents. Respondents expressed negative and positive experiences and insights on military life, provided personal information, commented on the survey, and qualified their responses to closed-ended questions. Topics included 'inadequate support', 'deployment impacts', 'suggestions for supporting agencies', 'appraisal of experiences' and 'coping strategies'.


CONCLUSIONS
This investigation uncovered issues of importance to spouses of military members that were not included or identified in a quantitative study. The findings provide a platform from which to explore these issues further, particularly the impact of military life on the non-serving spouse's career. The findings also provide support agencies with evidence to strengthen their services and they give spouses an opportunity to reflect on their own and others' feelings and evaluations of military life.
Integrating wireless sensor networks with the grid

Integrating wireless sensor networks with the traditional wired grid poses several challenges. The technical challenges center on the development of sensors and sensor network infrastructure, including the need to comply with emerging APIs for grid and Web services. Process-driven challenges, which center on the development and adoption of new business models and applications, are driving this technology. We describe two widely different sensor network applications - emergency medical services and supply chain management - and describe how they fit into a new data-collection network based on the Hourglass publish-subscribe paradigm.
CELF++: optimizing the greedy algorithm for influence maximization in social networks

Kempe et al. [4] (KKT) showed the problem of influence maximization is NP-hard and a simple greedy algorithm guarantees the best possible approximation factor in PTIME. However, it has two major sources of inefficiency. First, finding the expected spread of a node set is #P-hard. Second, the basic greedy algorithm is quadratic in the number of nodes. The first source is tackled by estimating the spread using Monte Carlo simulation or by using heuristics[4, 6, 2, 5, 1, 3]. Leskovec et al. proposed the CELF algorithm for tackling the second. In this work, we propose CELF++ and empirically show that it is 35-55% faster than CELF.