bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tackling statin intolerance with n-of-1 trials (TaSINI) in primary care: protocol for a feasibility randomised trial to increase statin adherence
Authors: Tudor Kate , Brooks Jenny , Howick Jeremy , Fox Robin , Aveyard Paul 
Published: February 2020

IntroductionStatins reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cause few adverse effects. Half of patients prescribed statins discontinue treatment due to perceived intolerance. Placebo-controlled (blinded) n-of-1 trials have shown people with perceived intolerance that the statin does not cause adverse events and most resume treatment. However, blinded n-of-1 trials are impractical to deliver in routine practice. Tackling Statin Intolerance using n-of-1 trials (TaSINI) will test the feasibility of a general practitioner (GP)-delivered behavioural intervention endorsing an unblinded n-of-1 trial to increase adherence to statins relative to usual care.Methods and analysisTaSINI is a feasibility randomised controlled trial with a nested qualitative substudy. Ninety primary care patients who have discontinued statins due to intolerance or refused treatment will be randomised to an unblinded n-of-1 trial, a blinded n-of-1 trial (positive control) or usual care (negative control). Participants randomised to usual care will be advised to take statin therapy to prevent CVD. In both n-of-1 trial arms, GPs will deliver a behaviourally informed intervention that accessibly explains the benefits of statins, the prevalence of adverse effects and endorse the benefit of experimenting with medication. Participants will alternate between 4 weeks of medication and no medication (unblinded arm) or randomly sorted active and placebo (blinded arm) and will record adherence, symptoms and symptom attributions throughout. After 6 months, GPs will feedback symptom data during active/inactive treatment periods. All participants will be asked if they would like to initiate statin treatment. Measures of feasibility will be met if 4% of invited patients enrol, 50% of participants randomised to n-of-1 trials engage with the experiment and 25% more participants initiate statin in the unblinded n-of-1 arm than in usual care.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been granted ethical approval by North of Scotland Research Ethics Service. The results will be written up for publication and show whether to progress to an effectiveness trial where the primary outcome would be differences in low-density lipoprotein concentration.
Is there a need for formal undergraduate patient handover training and could an educational workshop effectively provide this? A proof-of-concept study in a Scottish Medical School
Authors: Holt Nicholas , Crowe Kirsty , Lynagh Daniel , Hutcheson Zoe 
Published: February 2020

BackgroundPoor communication between healthcare professionals is recognised as accounting for a significant proportion of adverse patient outcomes. In the UK, the General Medical Council emphasises effective handover (handoff) as an essential outcome for medical graduates. Despite this, a significant proportion of medical schools do not teach the skill.ObjectivesThis study had two aims: (1) demonstrate a need for formal handover training through assessing the pre-existing knowledge, skills and attitudes of medical students and (2) study the effectiveness of a pilot educational handover workshop on improving confidence and competence in structured handover skills.DesignStudents underwent an Objective Structured Clinical Examination style handover competency assessment before and after attending a handover workshop underpinned by educational theory. Participants also completed questionnaires before and after the workshop. The tool used to measure competency was developed through a modified Delphi process.SettingMedical education departments within National Health Service (NHS) Lanarkshire hospitals.ParticipantsForty-two undergraduate medical students rotating through their medical and surgical placements within NHS Lanarkshire enrolled in the study. Forty-one students completed all aspects.Main outcome measuresPaired questionnaires, preworkshop and postworkshop, ascertained prior teaching and confidence in handover skills. The questionnaires also elicited the student’s views on the importance of handover and the potential effects on patient safety. The assessment tool measured competency over 12 domains.ResultsEighty-three per cent of participants reported no previous handover teaching. There was a significant improvement, p<0.0001, in confidence in delivering handovers after attending the workshop. Student performance in the handover competency assessment showed a significant improvement (p<0.05) in 10 out of the 12 measured handover competency domains.ConclusionsA simple, robust and reproducible intervention, underpinned by medical education theory, can significantly improve competence and confidence in medical handover. Further research is required to assess long-term outcomes as student’s transition from undergraduate to postgraduate training.
Altered heartbeat perception sensitivity associated with brain structural alterations in generalised anxiety disorder
Authors: Li Hui , Zhang Bin , Hu Qiang , Zhang Lanlan , Jin Yi , Wang Jijun , Cui Huiru , Pang Jiaoyan , Li Chunbo 
Published: February 2020

BackgroundPalpitation is a common complaint in generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). Brain imaging studies have investigated the neural mechanism of heartbeat perception in healthy volunteers. This study explored the neuroanatomical differences of altered heartbeat perception in patients with GAD using structural MRI.AimsBased on the strong somatic-interoceptive symptoms in GAD, we explored the regional structural brain abnormalities involved in heartbeat perception in patients with GAD.MethodsThis study was applied to the a priori regions using neuroanatomical theories of heartbeat perception, including the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, supplementary motor area and prefrontal cortex. A total of 19 patients with GAD and 19 healthy control subjects were enrolled. We used the FMRIB Software Library voxel-based morphometry software for estimating the grey matter volume of these regions of interest and analysed the correlation between heartbeat perception sensitivity and the volume of abnormal grey matter.ResultsPatients with GAD showed a significantly decreased volume of grey matter in their left medial prefrontal cortex, right orbital frontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex. The grey matter volume of the left medial prefrontal cortex negatively correlated with heartbeat perception sensitivity in patients with GAD.ConclusionsIt should be the first study that shows heartbeat perception is associated with brain structure in GAD. Our findings suggest that the frontal region may play an important role in aberrant heartbeat perception processing in patients with GAD, and this may be an underlying mechanism resulting in the abnormal cardiovascular complaints in GAD. This is hypothesised as a ‘top-down’ deficiency, especially in the medial prefrontal cortex. This will provide the foundation for a more targeted region for neuromodulation intervention in the future.
Assessment of transparent and reproducible research practices in the psychiatry literature
Authors: Sherry Caroline Elizabeth , Pollard Jonathan Z , Tritz Daniel , Carr Branden K , Pierce Aaron , Vassar Matt 
Published: February 2020

BackgroundReproducibility is a cornerstone of scientific advancement; however, many published works may lack the core components needed for study reproducibility.AimsIn this study, we evaluate the state of transparency and reproducibility in the field of psychiatry using specific indicators as proxies for these practices.MethodsAn increasing number of publications have investigated indicators of reproducibility, including research by Harwickeet al, from which we based the methodology for our observational, cross-sectional study. From a random 5-year sample of 300 publications in PubMed-indexed psychiatry journals, two researchers extracted data in a duplicate, blinded fashion using a piloted Google form. The publications were examined for indicators of reproducibility and transparency, which included availability of: materials, data, protocol, analysis script, open-access, conflict of interest, funding and online preregistration.ResultsThis study ultimately evaluated 296 randomly-selected publications with a 3.20 median impact factor. Only 107 were available online. Most primary authors originated from USA, UK and the Netherlands. The top three publication types were cohort studies, surveys and clinical trials. Regarding indicators of reproducibility, 17 publications gave access to necessary materials, four provided in-depth protocol and one contained raw data required to reproduce the outcomes. One publication offered its analysis script on request; four provided a protocol availability statement. Only 107 publications were publicly available: 13 were registered in online repositories and four, ten and eight publications included their hypothesis, methods and analysis, respectively. Conflict of interest was addressed by 177 and reported by 31 publications. Of 185 publications with a funding statement, 153 publications were funded and 32 were unfunded.ConclusionsCurrently, Psychiatry research has significant potential to improve adherence to reproducibility and transparency practices. Thus, this study presents a reference point for the state of reproducibility and transparency in Psychiatry literature. Future assessments are recommended to evaluate and encourage progress.
Homozygous mutations in DZIP1 can induce asthenoteratospermia with severe MMAF
Authors: Lv Mingrong , Liu Wangjie , Chi Wangfei , Ni Xiaoqing , Wang Jiajia , Cheng Huiru , Li Wei-Yu , Yang Shenmin , Wu Huan , Zhang Junqiang , Gao Yang , Liu Chunyu , Li Caihua , Yang Chenyu , Tan Qing , Tang Dongdong , Zhang Jingjing , Song Bing , Chen Yu-Jie , Li Qiang , Zhong Yading , Zhang Zhihua , Saiyin Hexige , Jin Li , Xu Yuping , Zhou Ping , Wei Zhaolian , Zhang Chuanmao , He Xiaojin , Zhang Feng , Cao Yunxia 
Published: February 2020

BackgroundAsthenoteratospermia, one of the most common causes for male infertility, often presents with defective sperm heads and/or flagella. Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is one of the common clinical manifestations of asthenoteratospermia. Variants in several genes including DNAH1, CEP135, CATSPER2 and SUN5 are involved in the genetic pathogenesis of asthenoteratospermia. However, more than half of the asthenoteratospermia cases cannot be explained by the known pathogenic genes.Methods and resultsTwo asthenoteratospermia-affected men with severe MMAF (absent flagella in >90% spermatozoa) from consanguineous families were subjected to whole-exome sequencing. The first proband had a homozygous missense mutation c.188G>A (p.Arg63Gln) of DZIP1 and the second proband had a homozygous stop-gain mutation c.690T>G (p.Tyr230*). Both of the mutations were neither detected in the human population genome data (1000 Genomes Project, Exome Aggregation Consortium) nor in our own data of a cohort of 875 Han Chinese control populations. DZIP1 encodes a DAZ (a protein deleted in azoospermia) interacting protein, which was associated with centrosomes in mammalian cells. Immunofluorescence staining of the centriolar protein Centrin1 indicated that the spermatozoa of the proband presented with abnormal centrosomes, including no concentrated centriolar dot or more than two centriolar dots. HEK293T cells transfected with two DZIP1-mutated constructs showed reduced DZIP1 level or truncated DZIP1. The Dzip1-knockout mice, generated by the CRSIPR-Cas9, revealed consistent phenotypes of severe MMAF.ConclusionOur study strongly suggests that homozygous DZIP1 mutations can induce asthenoteratospermia with severe MMAF. The deficiency of DZIP1 induces sperm centrioles dysfunction and causes the absence of flagella.
Variants in LRRC34 reveal distinct mechanisms for predisposition to papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Comiskey Jr. Daniel Forrest , He Huiling , Liyanarachchi Sandya , Sheikh Mehek S , Genutis Luke K , Hendrickson Isabella V , Yu Lianbo , Brock Pamela L , de la Chapelle Albert 
Published: February 2020

BackgroundPapillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) demonstrates high heritability and a low somatic mutation burden relative to other cancers. Therefore, the genetic risk predisposing to PTC is likely due to a combination of low penetrance variants. A recent genome-wide association study revealed the association of PTC with a missense variant, rs6793295, at 3q26 in a gene called Leucine Repeat Rich Containing 34 (LRRC34).MethodsWe report the mechanisms of PTC risk at 3q26 using a combination of overexpression, mass spectroscopy, knockdown, transcriptome profiling, migration assays and genetic analysis.ResultsWe observed differential binding of wild-type and missense LRRC34 to RANBP1. Overexpression of missense LRRC34 reduced RanGTP levels and increased apoptosis. We also identified a second linkage disequilibrium (LD) block upstream of LRRC34 containing regulatory variants with allele-specific expression. Transcriptome profiling of LRRC34 knockdown cells showed changes in genes involved with cellular movement. LRRC34 knockdown reduced the migration of thyroid cancer cell lines. Lastly, we assessed the relative contribution of PTC risk from each locus using haplotype analysis.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates two separate mechanisms, one in G protein signalling and the other in transcriptional control, dictating PTC risk at 3q26 using both biochemical and genetic techniques.
Flow diverters for ruptured posterior circulation perforator aneurysms: multicenter experience and literature review
Authors: Da Ros Valerio , Diana Francesco , Sabuzi Federico , Malatesta Emanuele , Sanna Antioco , Scaggiante Jacopo , Di Giuliano Francesca , Gandini Roberto , Floris Roberto , Ruggiero Maria 
Published: February 2020

BackgroundThe management of ruptured posterior circulation perforator aneurysms (rPCPAs) remains unclear. We present our experience in treating rPCPAs with flow diverter stents (FDs) and evaluate their safety and efficacy at mid- to long-term follow-up. A diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for rPCPAs is also proposed.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from all consecutive patients with rPCPAs treated with FDs at our institutions between January 2013 and July 2019. Clinical presentations, time of treatments, intra- and perioperative complications, and clinical and angiographic outcomes were recorded, with a mid- to long-term follow-up. A systematic review of the literature on rPCPAs treated with FDs was also performed.ResultsSeven patients with seven rPCPAs were treated with FDs. All patients presented with an atypical subarachnoid hemorrhage distribution and a low to medium Hunt–Hess grade. In 29% of cases rPCPAs were identified on the initial angiogram. In 57% of cases, FDs were inserted within 2 days of the diagnosis. Immediate aneurysm occlusion was observed in 14% of the cases and in 71% at the first follow-up (mean 2.4 months). At mean follow-up of 33 months (range 3–72 months) one case of delayed ischemic complication occurred. Six patients had a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 and one patient had an mRS score of 4 at the latest follow-up.ConclusionsThe best management for rPCPAs remains unclear, but FDs seem to have lower complication rates than other treatment options. Further studies with larger series are needed to confirm the role of FDs in rPCPA.
Changes in bone mineral density over 10 years in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Theander Lisa , Willim Minna , Nilsson Jan Åke , Karlsson Magnus , Åkesson Kristina E , Jacobsson Lennart T H , Turesson Carl 
Published: February 2020

ObjectivesTo investigate changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) over a 10-year period.MethodsConsecutive patients with early RA (symptom duration <12 months) were followed according to a structured programme and examined with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at inclusion and after 2, 5 and 10 years. Mean Z-scores over the study period were estimated using mixed linear effect models. Changes in Z-scores between follow-up visits were analysed using paired T-tests.ResultsAt inclusion, 220 patients were examined with DXA. At the femoral neck, the mean Z-score over 10 years was −0.33 (95 % CI −0.57 to −0.08) in men and −0.07 (−0.22 to 0.08) in women. Men had significantly lower BMD at the femoral neck than expected by age at inclusion (intercept Z-score value −0.35; 95 % CI −0.61 to −0.09), whereas there was no such difference in women. At the lumbar spine, the mean Z-score over the study period for men was −0.05 (−0.29 to 0.19) and for women 0.06 (−0.10 to 0.21). In paired comparisons of BMD at different follow-up visits, femoral neck Z-scores for men decreased significantly from inclusion to the 5-year follow-up. After 5 years, no further reduction was seen.ConclusionsIn this observational study of a limited sample, men with early RA had reduced femoral neck BMD at diagnosis, with a further significant but marginal decline during the first 5 years. Lumbar spine BMD Z-scores were not reduced in men or women with early RA. Data on 10-year follow-up were limited.
Numerical and analytical analyses of a matrix model with non-pairwise contracted indices
Authors: Sasakura Naoki , Takeuchi Shingo 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWe study a matrix model that has $$\phi _a^i\ (a=1,2,\ldots ,N,\ i=1,2,\ldots ,R)$$ϕai(a=1,2,…,N,i=1,2,…,R) as its dynamical variable, whose lower indices are pairwise contracted, but upper ones are not always done so. This matrix model has a motivation from a tensor model for quantum gravity, and is also related to the physics of glasses, because it has the same form as what appears in the replica trick of the spherical p-spin model for spin glasses, though the parameter range of our interest is different. To study the dynamics, which in general depends on N and R, we perform Monte Carlo simulations and compare with some analytical computations in the leading and the next-leading orders. A transition region has been found around $$R\sim N^2/2$$R∼N2/2, which matches a relation required by the consistency of the tensor model. The simulation and the analytical computations agree well outside the transition region, but not in this region, implying that some relevant configurations are not properly included by the analytical computations. With a motivation coming from the tensor model, we also study the persistent homology of the configurations generated in the simulations, and have observed its gradual change from $$S^1$$S1 to higher dimensional cycles with the increase of R around the transition region.
Spinor symmetries and underlying properties
Authors: da Silva J. M. Hoff , Cavalcanti R. T. , Beghetto D. , da Rocha R. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBy exploring a spinor space whose elements carry a spin 1/2 representation of the Lorentz group and satisfy the the Fierz–Pauli–Kofink identities we show that certain symmetries operations form a Lie group. Moreover, we discuss the reflex of the Dirac dynamics in the spinor space. In particular, we show that the usual dynamics for massless spinors in the spacetime is related to an incompressible fluid behavior in the spinor space.
Transport signatures of Majorana bound states in superconducting hybrid structures
Authors: Schuray Alexander , Frombach Daniel , Park Sunghun , Recher Patrik 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn this minireview, we outline the recent experimental and theoretical progress in the creation, characterization and manipulation of Majorana bound states (MBSs) in semiconductor-superconductor (SC) hybrid structures. After an introductory overview of the broader field we specifically focus on four of our recent projects in this direction. We show that the emergence of Fano resonances in the differential conductance in a normal lead-Majorana nanowire-quantum dot setup can be exploited to determine if a single MBS is contacted by the normal lead and the quantum dot providing an experimental test of the non-locality of MBSs. In the second project, the tunnel-coupling to two MBSs in ans-wave SC-Majorana nanowire Josephson junction (JJ) leads to a finite contribution of the MBSs to the equilibrium Josephson current probing directly the local spin-singlet contribution of the Majorana pair. We then shift our focus from MBSs forming in nanowire systems to MBSs forming in topological JJs. In a single sheet of buckled silicene with proximity induced superconductivity two local electric fields can be used to tune the junction between a topologically trivial and topologically non-trivial regime. In a Corbino geometry topological Josephson junction two MBSs harbored in Josephson vortices can rotate along the JJ and, in the course of this, will be exchanged periodically in the phase difference of the JJ. The tunneling current in a metal tip coupled to the JJ is shown to exhibit signs of the anyonic braiding phase of two MBSs.
Effect performance of the nanomagnetic properties of Ni–Cu–Co ferrites by Al3+ ions adulteration
Authors: Suo Nanzhaxi , Sun Aimin , Yu Lichao , Zuo Zhuo , Zhang Wei , Zhao Xiqian 
Published: February 2020

In this paper, aluminum-doped Ni–Cu–Co ferrite nanomagnetic material powder was prepared by sol–gel technique using citric acid as a complexing agent and high-purity nitrate as raw material. The effect of doping amount of different Al[Formula: see text] ions on the structure and magnetic properties of ferrites has been studied. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to characterize the structural and magnetic properties of ferrite. The XRD analysis showed that all samples of Ni–Cu–Co ferrites have a single-phase cubic spinel structure. Average crystallite size was calculated by the Debye–Scherrer formula and it was found that the average crystallite size of the sample was affected by the doping concentration. As the amount of Al[Formula: see text] ion doping increases, the crystallite size decreases from 54.88 nm to 46.09 nm. The absorption peak of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) at 590 cm[Formula: see text] further indicates the formation of cubic spinel structure of Ni–Cu–Co ferrite. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show the presence of particles which are spherically cubic-shaped particles. The constituent elements of the samples were analyzed by EDX spectroscopy. In addition, the ferromagnetism of the samples was confirmed by VSM measurements. The saturation magnetization (Ms) and remanent magnetization (Mr) first increase and then decrease when the aluminum ion concentration increases. Compared with pure samples and other doped samples, they have the best magnetic properties when the doping amount of Al[Formula: see text] ions is [Formula: see text]. It also shows that the prepared samples are suitable for magnetic recording materials.